Mission
To achieve common goals on access to, success in and progression from HE for those from under-represented groups by connecting our unique range of member HE providers with each other and external stakeholders.
Aim
To bring together members and stakeholders to ensure HE is an accessible option that is considered by a wider and more inclusive audience in our local area, and to support these prospective students in and through our institutions.
Focus
West Yorkshire
Our strategic approach
We support sustainability by building connections and working with those who work with our under-represented groups.
Priorities for our work
- Under-represented groups
- Informed choices
- Evidence-based practice
Enablers of our work
- Collaborative engagement and input from our diverse range of members and external stakeholders
- A flexible approach which recognises the diversity of our membership
- A sustainable approach to resourcing to enable longer-term planning
Delivery of strategy
- Collaborating to create demand for higher education
- Collaborating to respond to need
Go Higher West Yorkshire is governed by a Board comprising senior representation from each of the 13 members. The Board is responsible for the strategic direction of the partnership, and oversees project activities and performance. Its membership is detailed below:
| Bradford College |
Alina Khan |
Vice Principal Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity |
| University of Bradford |
Claire Pryke |
Associate Director (Recruitment Operations) |
| Calderdale College |
Julia Gray |
Vice Principal (Quality & People Services) |
| University of Huddersfield |
Jane Owen-Lynch |
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) |
| Kirklees College |
Pauline Hughes / Palvinder Singh |
Assistant Principal / Principal and Chief Executive |
| Leeds Conservatoire |
Joe Wilson |
Principal |
| University of Leeds |
Louise Banahene |
Head of Educational Engagement |
| Leeds Arts University |
Dave Russell |
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Student Experience & Resources |
| Leeds Beckett University |
Tracey Lancaster |
Deputy Vice Chancellor |
| Leeds College of Building |
Derek Whitehead |
Principal and CEO |
| Leeds City College |
Janet Faulkner |
Dean of Higher Education |
| Leeds Trinity University |
Claire Newhouse |
Head of Apprenticeships and Skills |
| Wakefield College |
Tony Rex |
Director of International and Higher Education Development |
The Access and Participation Strategy Group (APSG) and Go Higher Skills Group (GHSG) act as the interface between the Board and the wider partnership. They oversee operational activity and are responsible for the implementation of the strategy.
The GHSG brings together senior and strategic representatives in apprenticeships, work-based learning, skills, careers, employability and enterprise from each of the HE provider members. It works with employers, champions best practice and collaborates to support and empower people from underrepresented groups to gain higher level skills, progress into or within employment, develop their understanding of alternative HE options, and increase progression into graduate-level destinations. Its membership is detailed below:
| Bradford College |
Asa Gordon |
Vice Principal, Curriculum |
| University of Bradford |
Joanne Beaumont |
Head of Careers and Employability |
| Calderdale College |
Katie Walker |
Head of Higher Education |
| University of Huddersfield |
Claire Aydogan |
Head of Careers and Employability |
| Kirklees College |
Karin Sykes |
HE Manager |
| Leeds Conservatoire |
Paul Abbott |
Director of Events and Enterprise |
| University of Leeds |
Mohammed Hussain |
Lifelong Learning Centre |
| Leeds Arts University |
Andrew Jones |
Head of Careers, Employability and Enterprise |
| Leeds Beckett University |
Ian Maude |
Head of Apprenticeships |
| Leeds College of Building |
Brian Duffy |
HE Faculty Director |
| Leeds City College |
Jo Tyssen |
Head of WP, Outreach & Projects |
| Leeds Trinity University |
Claire Newhouse |
Director for the Centre of Apprenticeships, Work-Based Learning and Skills |
| Wakefield College |
David White |
Head of Employer Engagement |
The APSG brings together senior and strategic representatives in admissions, widening participation, outreach and student success from each of the HE provider members. It supports students from underrepresented groups to be able to make informed choices about their own future. It also supports staff across the consortium with learning, research and good practice in how to ensure students from a diverse range of backgrounds can stay on course and succeed in HE. Its membership is detailed below:
| Bradford College |
Marie Kay |
Outreach, Recruitment & Admissions Manager |
| University of Bradford |
Claire Pryke |
Associate Director (Recruitment Operations) |
| Calderdale College |
Dave Clapham |
Partnership and Learner Engagement Manager  |
| University of Huddersfield |
Julie Pink |
Head of Schools and Colleges Liaison Service |
| Kirklees College |
Karin Sykes |
HE Manager |
| Leeds Conservatoire |
James Rew |
Access and Participation Manager |
| University of Leeds |
Steve Gleadall |
Student Education Service Manager |
| Leeds Arts University |
Martell Baines |
Progression Manager |
| Leeds Beckett University |
Sarah Thomas |
Access and Widening Participation Manager |
| Leeds College of Building |
Julie Theakston |
Student Services Manager |
| Leeds City College |
Sophie Clayton |
Outreach Officer |
| Leeds Trinity University |
Sophia Milnes |
Student Recruitment and Outreach Manager |
| Wakefield College |
Jayne Kaye |
HE Participation Officer |
The Office for Students has stressed the need for sustained outreach interventions that build upon one another. The GHWY Progression Framework maps out the stages on the journey to Higher Education, and the suggested activities that will help individual learners to progress.
The phases of the framework are structured around key decision points on the student journey. The journey starts with preparing for Level 2 (especially GCSE options), moves on to preparing for Level 3 (whether that’s, A Levels, T Levels, BTEC or Access), and finally progresses to preparing for HE (a degree or higher level apprenticeship). Throughout the framework, longer term ambitions and career goals are explored and linked to relevant courses, qualifications and pathways. The end point for each phase is the decision about the next step. To inform these important decisions, the outcomes for each stage on the journey are based on the four D’s that we think learners need to go higher: Dream, Discover, Debate, and Do.
The activities at each stage of the journey are suggest as a guide. To support schools and colleges, all activities are also mapped against Gatsby benchmarks.
Download our Progression Framework
Find out more
One of the main aims – and key benefits – of Go Higher West Yorkshire (GHWY) is connecting staff from across the member institutions, to foster collaborative approaches to reducing inequalities in access to, success in and progression from higher education. This can be in groups and networks, which may comprise:Â
- Staff in similar or related roles Â
- Staff with similar or related interests Â
- Staff responding to similar or related issues or working towards similar or related goalsÂ
- Group members often represent a range of functions across the student lifecycle.
Participants report the benefits of sharing learning and expertise, as well as effort and resource. They also value the opportunity to understand how different institutions approach their activities, and having access to a range of viewpoints to challenge their own or institutional assumptions. A key benefit of working more locally across West Yorkshire is a common understanding of our area’s particular needs and how to respond to them.Â
Outside of the GHWY Board and formal ancillary groups – the Access and Participation Strategy Group and the Go Higher Skills Group – GHWY member institutions can choose which additional groups and networks they wish to join. With many voices contributing, as a collective we can often come to a better outcome than we might have had individually.Â
Our networks:
Decolonising the Curriculum
