Aimhigher
What is AimHigher
The Government has a target that by 2010, 50% of young people aged 30 and below will participate in some form of Higher Education. It may not always be the same kind of Higher Education that is currently the norm, namely 3 year full time undergraduate courses taught at a University. In the future a person may engage in a shorter HE course that is closely tied into their work as part of continual professional development. They may undertake the course part -time, it may be partly delivered over the internet, it may be delivered in a local FE college, or involve Open University type approaches and summer schools etc. In order to get anywhere near this target schools, colleges, universities and employers are all going to have to make dramatic changes to the way they operate and the curriculum they deliver. One of the main schemes the government has put in place nationally to drive this change is AIMHIGHER.
The Aimhigher scheme links Universities, schools, colleges, training providers and employers and has two broad strands of activities.
- Firstly, to widen participation to Higher Education by raising the awareness of young people about the possibilities of HE, and increasing their ambitions and motivation to progress there.
- Secondly, to raise achievement of young people, including special provision for the most gifted and talented students.
Last year, in Leicestershire, Aimhigher worked with over 14,000 students on a whole range of activities to widen participation and 'stretch' students including the most gifted and talented.
Leicestershire VESA co-ordinates Aimhigher in Leicestershire. The range of activities span the 14 -19 sector. Leicester Shire Aimhigher has its own website detailing
- The Area's Strategic and Action Plans,
- Institutional plans
- Key contacts at institutional, APPG and Learning Zone levels
- News, initiatives
- Information about forthcoming events
Aimhigher (Leicestershire) has its own website. Links to this and other relevant sites can be accessed from our Links Section.
AimHigher - Useful Documents
Leicestershire Aimhigher Strategic Plan
Masterclasses Academic year 2006 2007
If you are unable to open the above files, click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader.
AimHigher - The Way ahead Project
The aim of the project is to support the raising of aspirations, achievement rates and participation in further and higher education of looked after young people.
The background to the project has been developed from 'Every Child Matters' along with the Government's agenda for improving the co-ordination and quality of services for vulnerable children and young people. The project works with partners from multidisciplines such as Education, Social Services, Connexions and the Frank Buttle trust.
The Project has three overarching objectives
- Improving the potential learning and progression opportunities for LAC into post 16 and HE options:-
- to set up an educational picture of the educational background of each LAC and likely progression pathways working closely with local partners the Connexions services and social services
- piloting two 'Designated Tutor' posts at local Further education Colleges along side a peer mentoring project.
- Enhancing the skills of carers, social workers and other professional staff working with Looked After Children:-
- To produce a DVD aimed at foster carers and social workers outlining the 13-19 options and opportunities avaialable, copies are hoped to be ready by spring 2006 and will be available free to practioners within the field.
- Catering for the specific needs of gifted and talented Looked After Children:-
- The production of a leaflet for the identification of Gifted and Talented LAC for Independant Chairs and other professionals working with Looked After Children. To request copies of this leaflet please Email megan.jones@vesa.org.uk
- Provision of workshops events for local LAC focussing on Talent.
For further details of the project please contact the project manager Tim Farthing
0116 2707942
0116 2709759
VESA, Knighton Fields Centre, Herrick Road, Leicester, LE2 6DH
