Ambassadors
University and Higher Education students go into local schools to provide information about the range of opportunities that a higher education provides. Aimhigher seeks to select young people who come from the same background as Aimhigher students so they can relate to the same issues that might concern them, such as lack of confidence in their own abilities and being the first person in their family to go onto university. Ambassadors give an honest view about the benefits of gaining higher qualifications, funding higher education and balancing study, earning and having ‘fun’.

STEM Curriculum Programmes
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths and Aimhigher works to engage more students in enjoying these subjects and hopefully encouraging them to want to progress to take a STEM subject at university level.

There have been Maths master classes for KS3 students and teachers, led by King’s College, London, Engineering workshops held at Brooklands Museum and Year 8 awareness raising events (with hands on projects) at the University of Surrey. The Farnham and Ash Network was funded to run an Easter school in Technology, when students worked with industry specialists in creating robots and testing them out. This was followed by a visit to the Robotics team at the University of Surrey, where the students presented their experiments to the university lecturers who in turn showed them the range of research and technological projects on which they were working.

Aimhigher Surrey commissioned Royal Holloway, University of London to lead a science programme that took place over two terms. In Spelthorne each network schools selected up to 10 student to participate and a number of planning sessions took place between the university, science and geography teachers, local authority science advisors, Spelthorne Borough Council and Aimhigher.

Students from year 8 started the programme with a ‘key note’ lecture from one of Royal Holloway’s professors. He then set the students a challenge to learn about their school and home environment, and how both might be saved from future pollution and the effects of global warming. Each school took a specific area e.g. recycling, transport and over six weeks in the summer term, worked with their teachers to gather information and to undertake surveys. This all took place outside timetable hours and included a field trip to visit a public or private sector company involved in finding solutions to enhance the environment. In year 9, the students made a presentation to Spelthorne Council’s Mayor, Chief Executive, Leader of the Council and other elected members, on how they would tackle some of the area’s problems. Councillors expressed their interest in what the students had to say – and would have welcomed them onto the Council’s staff– had they been old enough!

The aim of the programme has been to engage students in exciting ways and to show them where the work in school can lead, in terms of progression to university. Youth Programme
Working with YPOD, the Youth Centre in Woking, a programme of raising awareness of young boys to progress to further and higher education, has been developed. With introductory sessions at the youth centre, the boys go on to a football summer school, followed up by a session with Kingston University’s Sports Science team. The boys enthusiasm for a subject (football) is then used to focus them on the wider aspects of learning that can be applied to the sport and hopefully, they will be motivated to raise their aspirations. Theatre in Education
A specially devised performance lasting about 30 minutes is presented to year 8 students in Aimhigher target schools. Year 8 is known to be a good time to start raising awareness about university level education. The main elements of the performance relate to working hard to achieve success and in thinking early about the sort of career students may want. The story revolves around young people and the different pathways they take in their lives. It also provides information about the different types of higher education e.g. university, distance learning (the Open University) , work related learning (Foundation Degrees), and about going away to university or staying at home and studying (doing a degree course at the local Further Education College).

A drama workshop follows the performance and involves students in practical exercises to enable them to think further about the benefits and barriers of going to university. Gifted and talented Post 16 years programme
Students from further education and sixth form colleges have taken part in two programmes designed to bring together top grade students from across Surrey. Like-minded and matched in ability, the students who undertake the programme work with university staff in a higher education environment to undertake a challenging project. The aim is to support students in maintaining high performance in their subject areas and in extending their knowledge and ability. Programmes in Creative and Media and Health and Social Care have already taken place with IT, Performing Arts and Sports planned for 2008-09. 14-19 Diploma Programmes
Aimhigher has sought to build the interest of students, who by taking practice and work related academic programmes offered by the 14-19 specialist diplomas, may be encouraged to go onto higher education. Its’ innovative 2-3 day interdisciplinary programmes have involved the universities of Surrey and Kingston and the University for the Creative Arts, taking a lead in offering year 8 and 9 events in Construction, Society , Health and Development, Creative and Media and Engineering.

Teachers and University staff agree the outline of the programme and for some school staff , it is the first time that they have worked together and on a collaborative project. Aimhigher intends to build good links between all staff , to enable future work with the universities and the development of diploma assignments.

Woking year 9 students (from three local schools) spent a day in the new state of the art Build Environment facility at the University of Kingston, taking part in a series of ‘hands-on’ workshops to be followed by a day with Woking Council’s planning officers. Students looked at how the local environment could be improved through new design and building and the use of sustainable materials. The students compiled a plan of action and presented it to Council chiefs – to some acclaim.Guildford students (year 8) went to the Farnham campus of the University for the Creative Arts and learned skills in design, music and film and Spelthorne and Runnymede students created a fashion show at the Epsom campus – also combining a range of disciplines to create a final production. The year 8 programme will be followed up in year 9 with a second visit to the university to further develop skills in the chosen diploma area . This will be linked to information and advice session on career and progression opportunities in the relevant industries.

The University of Surrey’s programme showed students the different types of engineering that are available from Civil to Aeronautical – and involved them in practical exercises to try out their skills.

Spelthorne and Elmbridge students interested in Health were engaged in a ‘patient journey’ role-play exercise . T his took place in the well-equipped labs of the European Institute for Health and Medical Studies at the University of Surrey.
All the programmes will continue to be offered from 2008-2011 as well as the introduction of new ones in travel and tourism, land based and hospitability. Schools Liaison Workshops
Aimhigher’s core team provides presentations to year assemblies and parents’ evenings plus interactive workshops with further education and sixth form students. A range of resources is available to schools to encourage students to aspire to university, as well as more detailed finance leaflets and university information – all available free of charge from Aimhigher. Aimhigher will run specific Aimhigher evenings for parents or dovetail into a school or Connexions event. Mentoring and Tutoring
Aimhigher Surrey provides an e-mentoring programme that focuses students from year 10 – 13 (first and second year further education) on setting goals, developing skills for improving study e.g. time management and aiming higher. The programme runs over 2-3 terms and aims to meet the needs of the school or college. E mentoring has taken place at Brooklands College over the past four years,with year on year success, both for the HE mentors recruited from the College’s HND courses and the level 2 and 3 students who have benefitted as mentees. Sunbury Manor School has confirmed that a recent year 11 cohort of Aimhigher students performed very well and attributed the mentoring programme (in part) to their success in GCSEs.

Funds have enabled tutors to work with identified groups of Aimhigher students, who would improve their attainment by receiving group enrichment and subject enhancement tutoring. This has taken place in groups or on an individual basis. Young People in Care have benefitted from additional tuition support in core subjects. Menu of Activities
Universities, FE Colleges and a range of education providers deliver a host of activities to Aimhigher schools and colleges. The activities are grouped into three main areas:

1. Awareness raising
2. Aspiration raising
3. Attainment raising

Activities include campus tours, university workshops, master classes and summer schools. The providers have negotiated with Aimhigher the type of activities they are willing to deliver and the year group, learning objectives and costs. Aimhigher allocates funds to schools, colleges and 14-19 networks and the funds are used to pay for activities – all of which should be embedded in a framework for the Aimhigher students ‘learner journey’.

An example: A year 8 student attends the theatre in education workshop that raises awareness of what university is about and the range of other higher education opportunities in the spring term, followed by a visit to a local university in the summer term or early in Year 9. Later in year 9 and in year 10, the Aimhigher student attends curriculum related programmes offered by the universities. In year 11 , during the autumn term, a day’s activity to find out ‘What University is really like’ – prior to making post 16 choices. Bespoke Aimhigher Projects
Aimhigher is responsive to schools and colleges setting up their own activities to support their cohorts’ progression to university. Christ’s College in Guildford has a 4-5 day residential enrichment programme that has shown improved results for students year on year. Broadwater School piloted a computer-making course that took place after school and the success has led to the establishment of the programme on an annual basis. Focus groups
Aimhigher regularly meets students in small groups in their own schools and colleges to gain feedback on what students think of the Aimhigher programme in Surrey. Ideas and suggestions for more effective interventions are always sought. Data and Monitoring
A database system is used to record the information about students on the Aimhigher programme, with the aim of tracking their progress towards university education. Permission from parents and students over 16 years is required. Progression Programmes
The Aimhigher target schools plan activity for their students within a framework of incremental interventions so that the student recognises that he or she is on an Aimhigher programme and their knowledge about university education increases. Building up aspiration and inspiring students to gain good qualifications is an important part of the programme, linked to parental engagement. Foundation Degrees
The Aimhigher plan 2008-2011 focuses its activity on the 13-19 years age range although Aimhigher nationally encourages adult learners to gain higher education qualifications. Since 2004, Aimhigher Surrey has worked with employers and education providers to establish new foundation degrees that meet the needs of locally based business. Staff Development
Teachers and tutors have attended sessions in Maths, Science and Mentoring– aimed at encouraging Aimhigher students to achieve at GCSE level. King’s College London, the University of Surrey and Royal Holloway have been key partners in providing workshops. All the curriculum and diploma programmes encourage staff development as teachers work alongside university lecturers Website
This web site: www.aimhighersurrey.org.uk

The website offers information about Aimhigher Surrey and national activities and provides downloads for partner organisations e.g. consent and questionnaire forms. Key Routes
A web based toolkit that shows students, parents and teachers the progression routes to university and higher education from the 14-19 specialist diplomas. The Surrey Prospectus site has the up to date Key Routes information and links to provision at level 1-3 (up to year 13 and final year in FE) and the Aimhigher website has information on provision ‘in and around Surrey’ for level 4-6 (first year university level). Parents and Carers
Events for parents held at community, school and university venues are aimed to provide information for parents and young people, on the opportunities and perceived barriers for their son or daughter in progressing to higher education. BME – British Minority Ethnic
The national Aimhigher programme recognises that there is little or no tradition in some families from BME backgrounds to go into university. In Surrey, the work undertaken with BME communities has been dovetailed into wider education and development initiatives. In Woking, an information project about university was established with the help of Woking High school. An information session for parents and young people was held in the community followed by an invitation to visit to the University in Guildford. In Surrey Heath, a Higher Education workshop for Nepalese year 10 and 11 students took place and students from Guilford College (Farnham campus) gave examples of progression opportunities in FE and two University of Surrey students talked about their choice of HE course. The contributions from these students was particularly important as the FE and HE students were also Nepalese and provided good role models for the Collingwood and King’s International students Disabled Students
A group of Disability Officers in Surrey meet on a regular basis to consider the way that Surrey based students with disabilities can best be informed on the support universities will offer them. Events have been organised for students with a wide range of disabilities to spend a day at university, visit the campus, meet students with disabilities and parents are invited to join in – and find out how their son/daughter can be supported. Traveller Community
Individual support is given to help raise the aspirations of young people from the traveller community. Aimhigher Surrey’s contribution is part of a multi- agency approach. Young People in Care and Care Leavers
Aimhigher has funded a special Easter school and Summer schools in generic skills development workshops and in the Arts and Media. Additional tutor support for year 9 and year 11 students has helped to build confidence in core academic subjects. A training programme for social workers, foster carers, school governors and designated teachers has been delivered to raise awareness of the role they can play in positively encouraging young people to progress to university education. Young People in Care and Care Leavers
Aimhigher has funded a special Easter school and Summer schools in generic skills development workshops and in the Arts and Media. Additional tutor support for year 9 and year 11 students has helped to build confidence in core academic subjects. A training programme for social workers, foster carers, school governors and designated teachers has been delivered to raise awareness of the role they can play in positively encouraging young people to progress to university education. Aimhigher’s Healthcare Strand
This is a special project to encourage more young people to consider a career in the NHS. A project officer works with Surrey schools and colleges to offer information and to run workshops in. An effective link to 14-19 diploma activity and many ‘free of charge’ activities.