Supplementary document 7.1
Schools partnerships.
This document introduces the framework for identifying and managing Schools partnerships within
the context of the University of Worcester Access Agreement.
Schools partnerships are a prominent feature within the UW Access Agreement, adopting a strategic
approach to identifying and working with schools and through these partnerships to making
measurable progress in achieving the progression targets set out in the agreement.
The purpose of the partnerships is to:
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Identify students that have the potential to study and succeed in HE, but for whom there are
limited opportunities to gain experience of the processes and expectations related to
progression.
Make available activities and opportunities for students that will raise their awareness of higher
education and impact on their aspirations to study for a HE qualification.
Seek to have the maximum impact on both the individual learners; through enabling a
sequenced and progressive programme, and on the whole school relationship with Higher
education and the University of Worcester particularly.
Increase progression to the University of Worcester from amongst the targeted learners.
Increase the success and achievement of learners throughout the partnership programme to and
including their higher education experience.
Increase progression to UW courses and programmes with particular emphasis on learners from
lower socio economic groups, from low participation neighbourhoods and first generation HE
entrants.
Activity will range from school to school but common elements will feature in all partnerships:
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Whole school activity; awareness raising activity both about the University of Worcester, its
learning environment, courses and student experience and higher education more generally.
Impartial pre – entry information, advice and guidance for learners and skill development for
school practitioners.
Subject specific activity that aids achievement and raises aspirations to progress into post
compulsory education.
Specialist mentoring programmes and specialist student mentors.
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Career preparation and development support.
Application, finance and transition activity.
Compact agreements.
Impact of the partnership activity will be determined within the context of a shared agreement but
will include some common elements:
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Positive impact on learner’s engagement in school and university programmes.
Increased levels of awareness, of higher education, and of potential career opportunities.
Demonstrable knowledge transfer and enhanced skill levels of staff working with learners in
Higher education careers information advice and guidance.
Improved attainment.
Increased progression onto HE from target learners, whole school. To UW and to wider HE
programmes.
Identifying Partnership schools.
A potential partner school will meet one or more of the following criteria:
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Be located in an area with low participation rates to higher education
Have above average proportion of students eligible for Free School Meals
Have a significant proportion of learners from Lower socio economic groups.
Be located in a geographic location strategically important to the University of Worcester.
Contextual data on the school performance at GCSE and A level will inform the development of the
intervention programmes.
In addition schools will need to demonstrate a willingness and enthusiasm for working in partnership
with the university and will share the university vision in terms of access and inclusion. Schools will
demonstrate a commitment to support the presence of University of Worcester students in the
school in various capacities and have a willingness to share learner data and support the collection
of impact evidence and participate in research.
Schools that are of strategic importance to our Associate College partners that meet the above
criteria will be supported through a collaborative outreach programme.
Identifying Learner target groups.
Much of the outreach activity will be aimed at the whole school, this will include access to the full
range of UW schools liaison outreach activity; where a more targeted intensive programme is
agreed, Learners will be identified by the school within the framework of national targeting
guidelines and freedom of the school to identify other unique identifying criteria.
Managing Schools partnerships.
The range of activity within the schools partnership agreement will be delivered by a range of
institutes and services. The initial contacts for partnership schools will be through the Head of
Access and Inclusion.
Following initial discussions with potential partner schools a draft partnership agreement will be
completed, this will detail the alignment of the school objectives with those of the University, and
will include agreement of data sharing protocols, resource allocation and outline the roles and
responsibilities of the partners. (See sample partnership agreement)
It is proposed that to maximise the collaborative nature of the partnerships that no formal
assessment of eligibility be undertaken, the process will be formalised through the Access,
Applications and Achievement group. Regular monitoring reports on progress will follow to the
appropriate UW committee.
Following mutual agreement on the partnership document an annual activity plan will be produced;
this will be competed with the institutes and services involved in the delivery.
Monitoring of the partnership will be achieved through regular progress meetings with the Head of
Access and Inclusion and through an annual monitoring report.
Partner schools will be able to display the University of Worcester branding and to demonstrate
public association with the University through display of internal and external signage. This will be
within the context of the UW policy on Communications and branding.
Partnerships will be reviewed annually.
Data Sharing.
For the purpose of measuring the impact of the partnership, the schools must be able to share data
with the university. This may include sensitive individual learner data to include information on
family background, attainment data - predicted and actual. Data collection will be subject to a data
sharing protocol which will identify the owner of the data and the use within the confines of the
data protection act.