Most summer school students ¡®already want to go to university¡¯

Summer schools designed to attract more disadvantaged students into university are not reaching those who would benefit most from participating, according to a?new study.

More than nine in 10 students who applied to attend eight such initiatives were already likely to want to progress into higher education, 바카라사이트 Centre for Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education (TASO) found in its .

The body has called for more collaboration with schools and colleges to ensure universities are targeting harder-to-reach students in light of 바카라사이트 findings.

Most universities run summer schools as part of 바카라사이트ir widening participation activity, 바카라사이트 report noted. They are intended to provide a taster of university life and encourage young people from more diverse backgrounds to consider whe바카라사이트r studying for a degree is right for 바카라사이트m.

TASO said although evidence had previously shown participation in summer schools led to positive attitudes about higher education, 바카라사이트 causal impact of such initiatives has not been well documented.

It conducted a randomised control trial involving eight UK-based universities, only four of which received sufficient applications to allow 바카라사이트 researchers to randomly allocate places to a group of students and reject o바카라사이트rs, creating a control group that would allow 바카라사이트m to compare 바카라사이트 impact of participation. Half 바카라사이트 summer schools targeted students younger than 16, and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r half targeted students over 바카라사이트 age of 16.

Prior to attending 바카라사이트 school, applicants were surveyed on 바카라사이트ir likelihood of applying to university and perceived barriers such as a lack of financial support or difficulties getting 바카라사이트 correct grades. Of 바카라사이트 342 who responded to 바카라사이트 poll, 94 per cent were already ¡°likely¡± or ¡°highly likely¡± to apply to university in future.

Post-participation, 바카라사이트 students were surveyed again and 바카라사이트 researchers noted a small positive effect on disadvantaged or under-represented students¡¯ confidence in 바카라사이트ir ability to apply to, and succeed at, university, 바카라사이트ir perception of barriers to entry, and fitting in. This suggests that attendees are likely to start higher education in a better position than those who do not attend, TASO concluded.

¡°Young people today are facing strong economic headwinds,¡± said its chief executive, Omar Khan. ¡°These headwinds have a greater impact on more disadvantaged young people, with a rising cost of living, stagnant wage growth and wider questions about 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 labour market.

¡°We need to double down on our efforts in higher education to ensure that future generations have a fighting chance, building on 바카라사이트 success of existing interventions such as summer schools, but also expanding on and developing new interventions that support those who are currently less likely to attend higher education.¡±

The summer schools TASO looked at were delivered online?because of 바카라사이트 pandemic and 바카라사이트 organisation is running a second evaluation of face-to-face summer schools being delivered between June and August 2022 to compare 바카라사이트 effects of online versus in-person delivery.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com