What is Aspire to HE?

Aspire to HE is a partnership funded through the National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP) and led by The University of Wolverhampton to supports the government’s goal to increase the number of disadvantaged young people entering higher education by 2020. NCOP supports 29 consortia across the country to work with young people from targeted postcodes. Aspire to HE covers the areas of Sandwell and Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton, and Telford and Wrekin.

The Aspire to HE consortium is made up of the University of Wolverhampton working in partnership with six further education colleges and over twenty five secondary schools to support informed, ambitious decision making with regard to higher education.

• Aspire to HE was formed when the University of Wolverhampton secured over £8 million funding to help increase the number of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to progress into higher education. Funding will be provided for two years in the first instance, from January 2017 to December 2018 with funding for a further two years to December 2020 being subject to consortia making satisfactory progress towards meeting the Government’s goals.
• The National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP) is part of national scheme delivered by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) which will see a total of £60 million awarded to consortia which were invited to submit proposals for funds to work collaboratively on outreach programmes in specific local areas.
• The programme aims to support the Government’s goals to double the proportion of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in higher education (HE) by 2020, increase by 20 percent the number of students in HE from ethnic minority groups and address the under-representation of young men from disadvantaged backgrounds in HE.
• Through Aspire to HE the University will collaborate with Black Country Further Education colleges, City of Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Sandwell and Halesowen as well as Telford College. The name of the consortium is ‘Aspire to HE.’

How does Aspire to HE work?

Aspire to HE is, at its heart, a partnership. By uniting the resources and expertise of local schools, colleges, charities, businesses, and the experienced Widening Participation staff at the University of Wolverhampton (‘the Hub’), we strive to create opportunities for young people who have the ability to succeed in higher education but who may lack some of the skills, aspirations or information necessary to take that step forward.

Fundamental to the success of Aspire to HE are our Lead Teachers, Senior Partnership Officers, and our college partners. All school- and college-based Aspire to HE staff are our eyes and ears. No one knows the young people of this region better than you. Through close, regular collaboration with our Hub based Senior Partnership Officers; you will construct a programme of stretching and relevant activity for your pupils and students to both broaden their horizons and open access to a range of university courses and higher-level qualifications