Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
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Government calls on universities to partner schools to tap into talent
The Government
today challenged universities to identify and nurture young talent
in the UK from the earliest stage, widening participation in
higher education through closer engagement with academies and new
trust schools.
Speaking at University College London (UCL),
John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and
Skills, and Schools Minister Lord Adonis, launched a detailed
prospectus urging universities to become engaged directly in
schools and academies.
The prospectus, which follows on from the Prime Minister's Mansion House speech earlier this year when he said he would like every secondary school to have a higher education partnership, sets out how such joint working can benefit both universities and schools with universities spearheading efforts to raise the aspirations of pupils, teachers and parents, driving up standards and supporting university applications.
At UCL, Mr Denham welcomed more than 20 universities which are
already involved in sponsoring academies with 13 having entered
into partnerships with new trust schools. Today's prospectus
encourages other universities to follow suit and become sponsors
of academies and trust schools.
Mr Denham said:
"I believe that an individual's success should be determined by talent and hard work, not where they went to school.
"It is clear that the universities that recruit the vast majority of students from a small minority of society are missing out on a huge amount of talent. However, I also understand that universities cannot offer places to those students who don't apply or those who are not sufficiently equipped to succeed.
"Widening participation in higher education should be seen as talent spotting by universities. This prospectus sets out how we want them to make that happen."
Further, Mr Denham warned:
"In an increasingly challenging globalised world, with an ever more competitive higher education market, the prizes of success will go to those institutions that are most successful in unlocking the best talent, wherever it may be."
The prospectus makes clear that universities will be able to sponsor Academies without needing to provide the usual £2million sponsorship contribution.
It sets out three key ways that universities can get involved in the management of secondary schools by:
* setting up, sponsoring and managing their own academies;
* supporting an academy as a co-sponsor, bringing educational expertise; and
* partnering a trust school maintained by the local authority to help it expand or enhance its provision.
The prospectus outlines ways in which universities can offer academies great benefits including a strong educational vision for the school in addition to robust governance and leadership. Universities can also provide professional development for teachers, support and mentoring for pupils as well as developing a specialist curriculum.
Sponsoring institutions can further raise student aspirations to post-16 study and arrange visits by student ambassadors who act as role models. They can also increase access to university resources including sports facilities, software and libraries.
Schools Minister Andrew Adonis said:
"If universities get involved early on in school life, children from deprived communities become familiar with higher education and feel they belong there. For parents and students in these schools, going to university is a natural step up the same educational ladder, not a leap into the dark. It is at an early age that low aspirations commonly become ingrained in pupils.
"The change in sponsorship rules means that there's now no barrier to universities applying their educational expertise, ethos and organisation to benefit a secondary school. It's their academic excellence and commitment that we desire. Academy pupils can only benefit from the positive impact on learning that the involvement of England's excellent universities brings.
"This is a unique opportunity for the higher education sector to get in at ground level to develop and nurture the undergraduates of tomorrow and widen participation in higher education. We want the most talented people of all backgrounds to meet their potential and excel.
"Universities know what skills and attitudes they want their potential students to have and now can play a leading role in making it happen at secondary school."
Diana Warwick, Chief Executive, Universities UK, said:
"UUK supports and shares the Government's commitment to building a world-class education system. Partnerships with Academies provide another route for universities to support closer links with schools, in addition to the many and varied links that already exist.
"Universities in all parts of the sector are strongly committed to working with schools - primary as well as secondary. The sector is already actively and deeply involved with a wide range of schools in a variety of different and innovative ways. These include initiatives such as formal or informal mentoring, gifted and talented programmes, compacts on access and widening participation, Aimhigher - which aims to both increase aspiration and attainment - and also the development of the new 14-19 Diplomas."
Ends
This press notice relates to England only.
1.The prospectus for Academies and Universities is available on the DIUS and DCSF websites http://www.dius.gov.uk and http://www.dcsf.gov.uk and follows on from the Prime Minister's Mansion House speech earlier this year.
2. Children, Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls announced on 10 July that high performing schools and universities and colleges, because of the excellent educational credentials and benefits they bring to Academies, would not have to raise £2 million.
3. Universities currently engaged with Academies include: Aston University, Coventry University, Imperial College London, Liverpool Hope University, City University London, Oxford Brookes University, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, Birmingham City University, University of Chester, University College London, University of London Queen Mary, University of the West of England, University of Liverpool, University of Nottingham, University of Manchester, University of Wolverhampton and University of the West of England.
4. Universities supporting trust schools include: Canterbury Christchurch University, Cranfield University, Hull University, Leeds Metropolitan University, Northumbria University, Sunderland University, University of Exeter, University of Kent, University of Leicester, University of Plymouth, University of Warwick, University of the West of England and University of Wolverhampton.
