HE Advisers’ Day 2015

National Networks for Collaborative Outreach

NNCOs by HEFCE The National Networks for Collaborative Outreach (NNCO) scheme aims to encourage more young people into higher education (HE). It will deliver a nationally coordinated approach to working with schools, universities and colleges to help people access HE. Local and regional universities and colleges have come together to form the networks, which cover the whole of England. The scheme involves 200 universities and colleges and will reach 4,300 secondary schools and colleges.

How will it work? Each network will appoint a single point of contact (SPoC), who will: help teachers and advisers find out about the outreach activity which universities and colleges run in their area provide general advice about progression into HE. Three more networks will offer support to specific groups of students at national level: students wishing to progress to Oxford or Cambridge, older learners wishing to continue or return to study and care leavers. The local networks will host web-sites with information about outreach activity, and signpost other information to support schools and colleges as they prepare their students for HE. These web-sites will be available for schools and colleges to access in early spring 2015.

Networks in the SW Combined Universities in Cornwall - Lead: Falmouth University Member institutions: Cornwall College, Plymouth University, Truro and Penwith College, University of Exeter Other partners: Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP, Cornwall Council, Cornwall Secondary Heads Group Devon Collaborative Outreach Network - Lead: Plymouth University Member institutions: City College Plymouth, PETROC, Plymouth College of Art and Design (PCAD), South Devon College, Strode College, University of St Mark and St John Southern Universities Network - Lead: University of Southampton Member institutions: Arts University Bournemouth, Bournemouth University, Portsmouth University, Southampton Solent University, University of Winchester Western Outreach Network - Lead: University of Bath Member institutions: Bath Spa University, Bridgwater College, Bristol University, City of Bath College, Hartpury College, University of the West of England, Weston College, Yeovil College Gloucestershire Reaching Out with Schools (GROWS) - Lead: University of Gloucestershire Member institutions: Gloucestershire College, Hartpury College, Royal Agricultural University, South Gloucestershire & Stroud College

Collaboration in the SW Common website developmentwebsite Links to Careerpilot and Lifepilot Co-operation between 5 regional SPOCs Agreement to share resources developed with this funding Priority is to test approaches that will be sustainable after the funding period (Jan 2015 – Dec 2016)

National networks These will work through regional networks: Open University NNCO Lead institution: Open University Oxford and Cambridge Collaborative Network Lead institution: University of Oxford National Network for the Education of Care Leavers Lead institution: University of Winchester Russell Group ‘proof of concept’ project to develop CPD and support materials for teachers. Not yet confirmed.

NNCOs in practice SPoCs – recruitment happening now Websites – late Feb / early March A 2 year period to trail innovative approaches and assess impact and sustainability