Report Overview
An evaluation by NFER of the Reach for Excellence Programme, focusing on Cohort 3. The Reach for Excellence programme (RfE) aims to support able young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in Yorkshire to gain a place at a top university. It is run by the University of Leeds, and funded by the Lloyds TSB Foundation.
Over the three year course of the programme, 16-18 year olds from Yorkshire schools benefitted from regular advice sessions and lectures, a summer school, university visits and individual mentoring, The programme also aims to raise the aspirations, achievement, confidence and self-esteem of the young people involved. This report sets out the findings of the evaluation of the third cohort of students (those who enrolled in 2009, and left the programme in 2011). It also provides findings from a small-scale survey and interviews with school and college links from where students from all cohorts of RfE were drawn.
Key Findings
- The experiences of cohort 3 students reflect those from previous cohorts, and demonstrate the value that RfE offers to participants. It is apparent that students are largely opting to progress to research intensive universities (37 out of 49 students have applied to at least one research-intensive university), thus fulfilling one of the key aims of the RfE programme.
- The majority of students felt that participating in the programme has raised their aspirations, made them more prepared for university, and helped them to develop a range of study skills and personal attributes that will help them to be successful in their application to university and in their subsequent studies.
- Students felt that the most valuable elements of the programme were: spending time on campus, attending the summer school, subject-specific sessions and information around UCAS applications.
- The responses of staff in the schools and colleges from where RfE participants have been drawn echoed those of the students, showing the value that they too place on the programme.
- School/college staff thought that RfE targets young people well.
- RfE was felt to offer students opportunities and support beyond that which the schools and colleges could provide themselves.