Colleges build bridges to LEAs

Cambridge is one of the only universities in the UK which is working to raise aspirations and widen participation on a national scale. By developing close relationships with particular LEAs, many of them Excellence Challenge areas, each College can tailor their projects to the needs of schools and communities in that local area.

Susan Stobbs is the Director of Admissions for the Colleges and an Admissions Tutor at Pembroke College. She has been instrumental in setting up the Pembroke House Higher Education project, designed to encourage children in Southwark to go to university. She commented:

"Many of the students my colleagues and I are working with in different areas of the country have no idea that university is even an option for them. The only way to get the message across and to change the common misconceptions about Cambridge is to get out there and engage directly with the kids."

The LEA Link schemes aim to introduce students in disadvantaged schools to the concept of higher education and encourage them to gain confidence in their abilities. Many initiatives also offer enrichment for core subjects in years 10 to 13, e-mail and mentoring links between students and undergraduates, work shadowing schemes, summer schools and professional development opportunities for teachers.

With the recent focus on University admissions, Susan Stobbs is keen that the University and Colleges demonstrate the extent of their initiatives.

"There is a huge amount going on, for which Cambridge rarely gets any recognition. We are very firmly committed to attracting students with the highest intellectual potential, whatever their background, and are therefore going out to all these schools and colleges to encourage those who may not normally consider applying. We acknowledge that there is still a great deal to be done, but we really do feel that we are beginning to make a difference," she said.

St John's was the first College to work directly with a specific LEA, launching their EAGLE project in schools and colleges in Lambeth in 1998. Funded by an anonymous benefactor, the project provides extra tuition and advice to students, with the aim of encouraging educational ambition.

In addition to school visits and workshops, some Colleges are developing new and innovative projects to reach their targeted schools. Downing College, which is linked to South West England, has recently piloted a video-conference with a school in Devon, whilst Homerton, which is working with schools and colleges in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and North East Derbyshire has created an interactive performance with Awry Theatre. The performance explores the options facing today's teenagers and asks the audience to help the characters make their decisions. The show has been successfully piloted with year nine and 10 students.

The College initiatives are funded partly through HEFCE aspiration funds and sponsorship and are supported by the individual Colleges.

Please note: Trinity College is not developing a regional link, but has put significant funds into supporting access initiatives organised by the Cambridge Admissions Office.