Are Universities working closely enough with schools?
New UK government guidance asks Universities and Schools to join forces.
This week saw the release of new government guidance highlighting the importance of collaboration between Universities and schools to better promote further education to disadvantaged teenagers.
As part of this new guidance Universities have been told they must work more closely with schools situated in poorer areas in order to boost the number of disadvantaged students studying for degrees in the UK. The campaign aims to inspire teenagers and raise their aspirations by highlighting the opportunities available to them. The government believe that by promoting the positive message and targeting the disadvantaged they hope to recruit more white, working- class boys and reduce dropout rates.
Blumilk’s Operations Director, George says: “Our Blumilk Education division specialises in supporting both universities and schools to deliver this new guidance.
Our team helps with strategic positioning, communication, partnership building and campaign messaging. All crucial elements in achieving the new objectives. We’ve worked on a number of successful campaigns targeted on both kids, parents and carers to raise aspirations and educational achievement in a number of deprived communities.”
Why is it important to collaborate now? The new government guidance comes after UK Prime Minister David Cameron warned education establishments, the police, military and courts that new focus needs to be placed on social inequality to tackle the current social issues.
What does this mean for Universities and schools? In short, universities and schools will now be expected to build partnerships with schools with the aim of targeting disadvantaged areas as well as offering better support to students with learning difficulties.
When speaking to Tes, England’s universities minister Jo Johnson said: “Going to university opens doors to a brighter future, but too many students are still missing out. We are asking universities to go further and faster than ever before, especially the most selective institutions.’’