Aimhigher National Project

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Aimhigher National Project

• By Briony Goldsmith

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Purpose

• To improve access to HE for learners with SpLD
• by
• raising awareness of opportunities and support

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Timescale

• The project runs to July 2006
• HEFCE funded
• Total budget 478,000

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Outcomes

• Enhance the student experience
• Raise awareness of learner needs amongst all HE
  staff
• Improve retention of students with SpLD
• Increase parent/student awareness of support and
  opportunities at HE
• Increase application rates to HE
• Support successful attainment at FE and HE.

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Partners and National Dimension

• South West, West
  Midlands, London,
  Yorkshire Humberside, East of England

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Strand 1 Awareness programme

• National and Regional Conferences
• CD Rom
• Web site

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Strand 2 Aspiration raising programme

• Ambassador students
• 20 students with SpLDs to do outreach in each of
  the four Aimhigher regions.
• Ambassadors will be role models to 200 SpLD
  learners in each region.
• Events for parents of SpLD learners about
  opportunities in HE
• Training delivered by Dyslexia Institute and the
  Project Office in the regions

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Strand 3 Regional attainment and development of
learning tools

• Staff development events for teachers from
  Schools and Colleges
• Develop materials through the curriculum to
  support the SpLD learner
• Map patterns of progression across sector

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Timescale and Targets

• March 2005
• April
• May (ongoing)
• May
• June
• September
• October
• December
• Spring 2006

• National Conference, roll out model and host
  conferences in regions
• Design ambassador training materials, recruit and
  train 20 student ambassadors in each region
• Ambassadors begin outreach. Embed in Aimhigher
  work reaching 200 SpLD learners in each region
• Pilot event for SpLD learners and their parents
  in London
• Disseminate up to 1000 inspirational CD ROMs to
  the regions
• Roll out learner/parent event to 5 schools and
  colleges in each region
• Pilot staff development event in London to
  include 30 school/FE staff
• Roll out staff development event in regions to
  reach at least 30 school/FE staff per region
• Final national conference to disseminate project
  findings