Fresh perspectives on HE-school partnerships Presenters Lucy Backhurst, Head of Undergraduate Recruitment and Admissions, Newcastle University Stephen Grundy and Deborah Langton, National Higher Education Coordinators, Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT)

Outline of session Introduction (DL) HE-school partnerships: the range and the benefits (SG) Addressing the agenda – one approach (LB) Discussion Questions and close

SSAT affiliates: HEIs Leeds Liverpool Manchester Wolverhampton Cumbria (formerly St Martin’s College) University of West of England Newcastle London School of Economics Birmingham Edge Hill (School of Education only) Open University of Wales Institute in Cardiff Sheffield Hallam Sheffield Nottingham Bolton Hertfordshire Aston University of the Arts, London Warwick (School of Education only) De Montfort Derby London South Bank University Bournemouth Liverpool John Moores University Southampton Staffordshire Nottingham Trent St Mary’s University College University of East Anglia Sussex Gloucestershire Hull (Business School only) Cambridge Exeter

Affiliate d HEIs Regional networks HE- related Learning Learning Walks National Specialism Conferences VI form survey findings Schools National HE / school Conferenc e School- based HE Champion s Support for teachers to support progression

Defining our terms? ‘every secondary school should have (a business and) a university partner..’** Delegates’ own definitions of partnerships, and their views on any challenges, will be added to this slide **July 2007 Rt Hon Ed Balls, Secretary of State July 2007 Lord Adonis, Schools Minister

To insert presentation title, please go the to slide master Partnerships The range and the benefits Sponsorship / governance – academies & trust schools Enhancement of specialist subjects and curriculum enrichment Dialogue and understanding – eg Learning Walks Enabling student progression and facilitating transition Widening participation - Aim Higher partnerships, HEMiS etc Working with local communities / promoting community cohesion Supporting local and regional regeneration Secondary / higher education / business & employers

To insert presentation title, please go the to slide master Sponsorship / governance Support for school mission Connectivity /cohesion of purpose Cross-sector understanding / tackling misconceptions Influencing and shaping vision and strategy

To insert presentation title, please go the to slide master Enhancement of specialist subjects and curriculum enrichment Meeting specialist programme targets Motivation and achievement Increased rates of progression Better preparation and transition for students Reciprocal staff development Gifted and Talented opportunities

To insert presentation title, please go the to slide master Dialogue and understanding Tackling misconceptions Understanding issues and pressure points Understanding where students are going Understanding where students are coming from Smoother partnership working Identification of new joint opportunities

To insert presentation title, please go the to slide master Progression/ Transition/ WP Pathways for students Improved course selection Improved skills and transition Higher retention / completion rates More and better quality graduates for workforce Progression targets / school prospectus / specialist subjects Recruitment / WP targets

To insert presentation title, please go the to slide master Communities / regeneration / community cohesion Specialist school community targets Community cohesion targets Outreach / WP targets Opportunities for local communities Support for local economy / employers Greater cohesion / harmony in communities

To insert presentation title, please go the to slide master Secondary / higher education / business & employers Specialist school community targets Student employability Support for local economy / employers Cohesive progression pathways Improved skills Opportunities and experiences Pipeline providing effective workforce Research links Reciprocal training for staff

HE-School Partnerships Newcastle University – an approach to addressing the agenda Characteristics of effective partnerships: –Mutually beneficial –Supporting key HE-school agendas –Strong business case For example

School-HE Partnerships SCHOOL AGENDAEXAMPLES OF PARTNERSHIP WORKING (NEWCASTLE) UNIVERSITY AGENDA Raising Aspirations and Attainment  Academy Engagement  PARTNERS Programme Supported Entry Route  Aspiration-raising interventions Widening Participation Regional Engagement Increased Progression to HE  Intensive programme of aspiration-raising and curriculum relevant interventions Student Recruitment Specialism Enhancement  Subject Learning Walks  Curriculum-relevant interventions for schools  CPD provision for teachers Enhanced Teaching and Learning Recruitment to STEM/strategic shortage subject areas Support for Teaching  Students into Schools  Curriculum-relevant interventions  CPD provision for teachers Graduate Employability Widening Participation

eg PARTNERS Programme Formal agreement with 100 schools/colleges Programme of interventions, supported entry route, and lower offer (including assessed summer school) for appropriate students Business case for schools: –Raises aspirations and encourages progression –Enhanced student/staff support Business case for Newcastle University: –Progress towards benchmarks –regional engagement and relationship building –Supports student success –Student recruitment –Altruism, and the benefit of a diverse student body

eg Students into Schools Joint initiative - Newcastle and Northumbria Universities 700 students pa on placement in schools for academic credit Students matched to schools according to subject demand from school Business case for schools: –Raises aspirations of students -Classroom support for teachers (languages, maths, science, SEN, sport etc) Business case for Newcastle University: –Employability and student success –Regional engagement and relationship building –Widening participation

eg Subject Learning Walks University staff shadowing teachers in schools (facilitated by SSAT) Business case for schools: –Subject specialism enhancement –Promotes mutual understanding and supports student transition Business case for Newcastle University: Early days, but potentially: -Supports students transition, and success -Updates staff knowledge and improves teaching and learning -Enhances student satisfaction (therefore encourages student recruitment)

Discussion questions: What other challenges do HE/schools face in the development of this work? How can we all address these challenges in order to rise up to the ‘every school’ quotation? How might the partnerships be mapped and monitored nationally? What will help to support the business case for partnerships?

Is your university represented at Solutions for Success? SSAT National Higher Education/School conference Nottingham Crowne Plaza 12 and 13 March 2008

SSAT contacts National Higher Education Coordinators Stephen Grundy Deborah ‘Solutions for Success’ enquiries can also be directed to: Project Officer, Community Team Shakira Taylor Online booking at Click on Community and follow the instructions – do join us!