Evaluation of the Reach for Excellence Programme

Client: The Sutton Trust | NFER Contact: Emily Lamont

Recent years have witnessed a substantial increase in the proportion of young people continuing on to higher education after leaving compulsory schooling (Walker and Zhu, 2003). However, despite this positive rise in participation, young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds are still much less likely to continue on to higher education than their more affluent counterparts (Gilchrist et al., 2003). A growing number of initiatives and methods have been undertaken to address the persistent social inequality in higher education applicants and attendees. The Reach for Excellence programme has been developed by the University of Leeds in association with the Sutton Trust and the Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) Foundation to support able young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in Yorkshire to gain a place at a top university.

This study seeks to evaluate the overall impact of the Reach for Excellence programme on increasing the number of pupils continuing on to university, and in particular entering a research-led university. In doing so, it will also consider the isolated impacts of each component of the programme. These include a summer school, study support, mentoring, financial literacy, and parent information sessions.

Research questions

The study aims to investigate how many pupils, who would otherwise not have done so, go on to attend university because of the scheme. In order to meet this aim, the study also seeks to explore the following research questions:

• Do pupils completing the Reach for Excellence programme have a greater awareness of the options available to them, of the HE sector and of the funding available?
• How many of those pupils completing the Reach for Excellence programme enter higher education?
• How many of those pupils completing the Reach for Excellence programme secure a place and attend a research-led university?

Impact and outcomes

An interim report on the baseline survey and initial programme visits will be presented to the Sutton Trust in July 2008. A final draft report will be presented by the end of November 2009, followed by a completed final report in December 2009.This will draw on all phases of the research.

Research design and methods

The research will comprise six strands.

1. A survey of eligible year 12 pupils in November and December 2007 will gather baseline information on the attitudes and intentions towards university of all year 12 pupils eligible for the programme in 30 participating schools.
2. Short telephone interviews will be conducted with the Heads of Sixth Forms in the 30 participating schools in November and December 2007. These interviews will investigate the attitudes and perceptions of teachers towards the programme, prior to it commencing.
3. Up to six visits to programme events and activity days will take place during the course of the programme. Each visit will comprise interviews with individuals and/or small groups of students from the sample of 30 schools, observations of the sessions, interviews with programme organisers and/or deliverers, interviews with parents attending the parent session.
4. A follow-up survey of eligible pupils in March 2009 will gather information from the students who filled in the baseline survey in 2007 (that is, all students eligible to take part in the programme from the 30 participating schools, regardless of whether they were involved in the programme).
5. Short follow-up telephone interviews with Head(s) of Sixth Forms will again be conducted in March 2009. These will ascertain their views on the efficacy of their programme, logistical issues and lessons learnt and so on.
6. Follow-up data from schools will be requested in September 2009. The 30 participating schools will be asked to provide basic outcome information about all pupils who were eligible for the programme (regardless of whether they were involved). A-level grades, numbers of university applications and destination information will be requested.

Audience(s)

It is anticipated that this research will be of interest to the Sutton Trust (and the HBOS Foundation) and other bodies implementing schemes to redress the balance in university applications and attendance. It will also interest teachers, students, parents and university staff.

Time scale: October 2007 - December 2009

NFER Project Code: RFE

References

Gilchrist, R., Phillips, D. and Ross, A. (2003). ‘Participation and potential participation in UK higher education.’ In: Archer, L., Hutchings, M. and Ross, A. Higher Education and Social Class. London: RoutledgeFalmer.

Walker, I. and Zhu, Y. (2003). ‘Education, earnings and productivity: recent UK evidence’, Labour Market Trends, 111, 3, 145-152.