Dr Steve Lake, Head of Access & Partnerships The Buttle UK Quality Mark: Promoting Change in Higher Education

A framework for positive change Care leavers a priority for higher education Putting Care Leavers on the Agenda Well done Buttle UK!

Access Success Specific guidance on inclusion of LAC and care leavers: ties-and-colleges/guidance- and-useful-information/how-to- address-the-needs-of-looked- after-childrencare-leavers/ Buttle UK Quality Mark growing in importance and value

The Solent Story (1) Strong record in widening participation over last decade Key partner in Aimhigher: Hampshire & Isle of Wight Lead partner in Hampshire & IoW Lifelong Learning Network BUT – UP UNTIL 2009 NO RECOGNITION OF THE NEEDS OF LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN & CARE LEAVERS The Strategic Planning Process April 2008

The Solent Story (2) So – What happened? Buttle UK A member of staff champions the agenda Links with local authorities Aimhigher plays its part – bringing HEIs together

Internal Networks Existing students! Senior management Support services Marketing Academic staff The message? The Strategic Planning Process April 2008

Partnership Working ‘We Care Partnership’ established 2010 Chaired by Southampton Solent, membership includes Universities of Winchester, Portsmouth and Southampton and the four local authorities in Hampshire & the Isle of Wight Now adopted as a sub-group of the Hampshire Universities Widening Participation Group Sharing good practice and facilitating communication

Promoting Change A structure - QM Staff Champions Internal Networking External Networking Listening to Students Tight plans and open minds! The Strategic Planning Process April 2008

External Networks Local authorities Schools/colleges Other universities Other networks e.g. FACE The Strategic Planning Process April 2008

Promoting success Winning the argument: Initial feedback from students Rise in applications from LAC (up 45% in 2011 using 2010 as base year) Improved retention (43% in 2010 rising to 93% in 2011)

Questions Dr Steve Lake Head of Access & Partnerships Southampton Solent University