Measuring progress: An evaluative study of aimhigher south west 2003-2006

Hatt, Sue; Baxter, Arthur; Tate, Jim

Abstract

The persistence of the social class gap in higher education (HE) participation presents one of the biggest challenges for the English HE sector at the start of the 21st century. This paper considers the evidence collected by the Aimhigher partnerships in the South West of England to assess the progress towards closing the social class gap in HE participation within their region. Since Aimhigher is a complex, long-term initiative, these partnerships have adopted a multi-strand approach to evaluation through a combination of secondary data, activity and quality indicators, and a longitudinal tracking study. Encouragingly, the social class gap is beginning to narrow as the number of applicants from upper social groups has fallen slightly while those from other social groups increased by 25 per cent between 2000 and 2004. HE awareness, aspirations, attainment and educational progression are also increasing. The paper raises three policy issues concerning targeting, sustainability and vocational progression. Engaging the ‘right’ beneficiaries remains a key concern. The tracking study indicates that, although over 80 per cent of Aimhigher beneficiaries have the ability to progress to HE and would be first-generation entrants, only one in three comes from a manual background. The findings, however, indicate that compared with their peers whose parents have HE experience, these first-generation entrants were less well informed about HE, less likely to aspire to HE by year 11, to progress to level 3 or to study A-levels. These findings suggest that the focus on first-generation entrants remains appropriate. Second, although wider participation in HE is beginning to happen, there is still a long way to go. Sustaining the Aimhigher programme into at least the medium term is essential if it is to complete the work it has begun and maintain the trust of the communities within which it works. Finally, the paper finds that the Aimhigher cohort includes learners who want to take a vocational route into and through HE and who are at present less well served by current provision. © 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2007
• Journal: Higher Education Quarterly
• Print ISSN: 0951-5224
• Electronic ISSN: 1468-2273
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 61
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 284-305
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2273.2007.00356.x
• Keywords: aimhigher south west
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1030330
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2273.2007.00356.x
• Additional Information: Additional Information : In 2003, the Aimhigher partnerships in the South West agreed to adopt a common evidence strategy, assessing progress through a combination of secondary data, quality indicators and a unique longitudinal tracking study. This study follows the educational careers of a sample of young people who have taken part in widening participation activities. A recent report on Aimhigher Area Studies (EKOS 2007) commended this approach and noted that it �has been able to provide a more robust analysis of what is working than was seen elsewhere'. This strategic approach to evaluation has attracted attention nationally. Hatt has been invited to act as consultant to HEFCE to produce evidence guidelines for all Aimhigher partnerships. Hatt was responsible for 65% of this output.