At Go Higher West Yorkshire we take pride in the wide range of activities and projects we deliver in schools, colleges and communities across West Yorkshire, engaging thousands of young people, and supporting them on their journey into higher education.
The knowledge and insights we gain from working with young people are fed right back into our programme, ensuring that learners’ needs are met, and that our activities are always informed by research.
Explore a selection of our latest research findings and case studies showing the impact our work has had on young people’s lives, and the difference it has made to their personal and educational development.
Care to Go Higher Evaluation Report
In this report, Go Higher West Yorkshire shares impact and insights from the evaluation of its innovative Care to Go Higher training programme for adults who live or work with young people in or leaving care.
GHWY: Delivering careers advice in the wake of Covid 19
Go Higher West Yorkshire has worked with C&K Careers to explore the impact of Covid 19 on the delivery of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG). The research, which was funded as part of the OfS Uni Connect programme, also considered how things might look in the 2020-21 academic year.
The research, undertaken in July 2020, explores current and planned approaches to delivery of CEIAG activities in schools and colleges and examines challenges and potential solutions.
Potential challenges that were identified include labour market uncertainty; concerns around the priority of CEIAG; students’ IT access; and safeguarding.
Schools and colleges expected to see increased use of online CEIAG delivery this academic year alongside some small group or one to one activity face to face. They also highlighted the importance of being flexible, adaptable and being prepared for all eventualities in the current climate.
One key finding is that activities that are bitesize and available in a variety of formats are the most valuable and impactful during this period. These give Higher Education Providers the flexibility to incorporate them into planned lessons and activities and to meet student needs.
It was also found that participants wanted a variety of accessible activities and resources to meet different needs. Numerous free and paid resources are already available but schools and colleges often find navigating them all overwhelming.
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Download executive summary.
GHWY CFE Data Analysis Report
As part of the National evaluation of NCOP, CFE research rolled out baseline and follow-up surveys. This report provides the results for our local area for our partnership.
Putting pupils in control: an action research project exploring progression opportunities
Go Higher West Yorkshire is a partnership of 13 Higher Education Providers, and we operate the HEFCE-funded National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP) in our region. Across our partners, provision includes a diverse offer of progression opportunities for people of all ages to access Higher Education – including apprenticeships, diplomas and flexible degree programmes alongside more traditional ones. Part of our innovative programme of delivery is to work with cohorts of pupils to encourage them to think positively about their progression options and opportunities.
Anecdotal evidence indicates that progression options are traditionally limited for learners from disadvantaged postcode areas. Limiting factors are believed to be: a lack of information and awareness of opportunities available beyond immediate family or social circles, and restricted evidence-based reference points (parents or siblings’) positive personal experiences of progression. We tested these beliefs by working with young people growing up in these communities.
Our pilot project, with one of our partner schools (Castleford Academy), worked with a school selected mixed gender group of twelve Year 9 learners to support their development as ‘action researchers’ charged with exploring options and opportunities available to them when they eventually leave school and progress to the next stage in their lives.
‘My Holmewood’ Photography Project – Centre TFD Bradford
Higher Education Progression Officer Katie Chetwood delivered a Photography Project which aimed to raise aspirations for young people in the Holmewood area.
Prior to the project, learners from the Holmewood area in Bradford had expressed distaste about their neighbourhood: litter, fly-tipping, reputation and prejudice were all areas of concern.
‘My Holmewood’ was a three-day intensive project, devised, co-ordinated and run to counteract the low aspirations of the area; from feedback previously received, many of the young people in the area didn’t have the confidence to access Higher Education without ongoing external support. Previous events had highlighted misconceptions about Higher Education, especially in relation to finances, what is expected from applications and lack of knowledge about the amount of support given to young people with Learning Disabilities and Special Educational and Disability Needs.
Therefore the context and desired outcome of the project, was:
To use a creative means to engage and inspire NCOP learners and to break down barriers to Higher Education.
To assess and look at the thoughts of Holmewood residents about their area prior to and then after the project, and evaluate impact on raising aspirations and changing opinions on accessing Higher Education.
To create a permanent exhibition within the community of which the learners can be proud, and to inspire others.
To create a book that will act as a legacy to the GHWY project for years to come, and aim to inspire other organisations to invest further in the community over the upcoming years and to help community members realise their full potential.
To boost self-confidence for the learners through an awards ceremony at the University of Bradford, celebrating their work whilst helping familiarise them with the Higher Education environment.
After the project, the participants all said that they looked at Holmewood with a fresh, more positive perspective. They also had a better and more positive opinion of Higher Education in general – as did some of the community members that we talked to during the process of the project. It opened up conversations about career options, finances, the education journey, and accessing Higher Education courses.
Outcomes
The project has helped young people think about Higher Education options whilst raising their confidence: one person attending the course was offered a conditional place at the University of Bradford as a result in taking part in the project.
Our NCOP also made good links with community members.
West Yorkshire pupils raise their aspirations at the Class of 2023 residential summer school
GCSE pupils from across the region opened their eyes to a future of Higher Education as they took part in a three-day summer school across six of our GHWY partner campuses
Hosted by Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Trinity University, Leeds City College, Bradford College, the University of Bradford and Wakefield College, with support from Leeds Arts University and University of Huddersfield ambassadors, the residential was co-funded by GHWY and the government’s National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP) – which aims to increase the number of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in Higher Education by 2020. The aim of the three-day programme was to encourage young people to aspire, apply, enter and succeed in Higher Education.
93 year 10 pupils aged 14 and 15, who will be taking their GCSEs next year, attended the summer school from Tuesday 18 to Thursday 20 July. Throughout the three days, the pupils stayed at Leeds Beckett University’s Kirkstall Brewery student accommodation whilst having the chance to visit a selection of the university and college campuses, taking part in a series of workshops and social activities.
The residential gave the young people the chance to find out about the range of courses and Higher Education providers on offer in West Yorkshire; give them the opportunity to take part in university-level workshops; raise their aspirations; inspire them to think about applying for university in the future; and give them first-hand experience of university life so they can picture themselves as students in the future.
James Kelly, NCOP Higher Education Progression Officer at Carlton Bolling College in Bradford, said: “I think the best activity has been the university taster sessions on the second day: these were engaging and a chance for them to dive in and have a look at what a higher education course could actually be like for them. It was also a good opportunity for them to mix in with other schools which is something that they’re going to have to do at university and was a rewarding experience.”
Comments from the pupils included: “The Class of 2023 residential was great: I didn’t think I wanted to go to university but it got me thinking about what I want to do and where I want to go in life. I think it did the same for a lot of other people – it was really inspirational and a great experience”; and “The subject taster sessions gave us a great insight into what it would be like to study at university or college. It was really interesting to find out how science subjects are taught and dealt with in a university setting.”
Alex Cooper, a Leeds Beckett student ambassador who graduated this month with a BA (Hons) degree in Business Management, commented:
“I think that the young people gained a real insight into what different institutions have to offer and the opportunities available to them. I think that the inclusiveness of the event made Higher Education feel accessible and possible for the young people involved. I hope that the event inspired them to think about their future and the abundance of paths available for them to investigate.”
The three days were themed in order to reflect a higher education student’s journey: making informed decisions about courses, sampling university and college-level subjects in taster sessions, and employability and graduation. The theme of the student journey was reinforced by a bespoke ‘Class of 2023’ work book designed by Kyle Prior (Leeds Arts University).
On the second day, the pupils had the opportunity to sample subjects including: Forensic Science, Law, Social Work, Media Make Up and Special Effects, Civil Engineering, Photography, Textiles and Marketing. The employability and graduation events on the third day took place at Wakefield College’s Advanced Skills and Innovation Centre.
View and download the report below
Go Higher West Yorkshire Class of 2024 Summer School 2018
The class of 2024 collaborative summer school was hosted by Go Higher West Yorkshire’s (GHWY) Higher Education partners from Tuesday 17th to Thursday 19th July 2018. 77 students attended the residential from 12 NCOP and GHWY target schools and colleges, comprising:
• Appleton Academy (Bradford)
• Bishop Young Academy (Leeds)
• Bradford Academy (Bradford)
• Carlton Bolling College (Bradford)
• Cathedral Academy (Wakefield)
• Cockburn School (Leeds)
• Dixons Trinity Academy (Bradford)
• Immanuel College (Bradford)
• Leeds City College 14+ Academy (Leeds)
• Leeds West Academy (Leeds)
• Minsthorpe Community Academy (Wakefield)
• Ruth Gorse Academy (Leeds)
The content of the Summer School was developed in response to participant and practitioner feedback from previous years (the collaborative Year 10 residential has run since 2015). The programme was structured around the ‘student journey’, with Day 1 focusing on pre-entry options and ‘freshers’ activities, Day 2 on study and the student experience, and Day 3 on preparation for the world of work and graduation. A central driver in the development and design of the programme was that it should provide students with an immersive experience of Higher Education. Alongside core staff, participants were supported throughout by dedicated Student Ambassadors from across the GHWY partnership. The programme had five substantive elements:
Go Higher in healthcare: Work experience programme 2018
The Go Higher in healthcare work experience programme is targeted at young people from areas where progression rates to Higher Education are low (and particularly so when above average GCSE attainment is taken into account).
The programme includes an induction session, a 2-5 day placement and a review session within which participants are encouraged to reflect on their experience and explore their personal development/ learning gains.
Castleford Housing Project
Building relationships on the Castleford Housing Project
As part of the National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP), 29 students from the Castleford area took part in an exciting project co-delivered by Go Higher West Yorkshire and national house builders Keepmoat Homes. The students, who were selected from Castleford Academy and Airedale Academy, worked with both student and industry ambassadors to explore different elements of the construction and housebuilding industry. Speaking of Keepmoat Homes’ involvement in the project, Social and Economic Manager Sarah Hopkinson said, “A big part of our offer is that we engage with the communities in which we work, and this project gives us the opportunity to help local students develop the skills that employers are looking for. We’re also hoping to provide the young people with skills that fit in with the Keepmoat Homes ethos, such as being passionate, creative and collaborative.”
Throughout a series of classroom sessions, students worked in teams to create their own housing company, using a set of bespoke resources to explore how they might develop, build and sell a housing development. As well as thinking about essentials such as costings and materials, the teams also enjoyed creating mood boards to showcase their own ideas for show home decoration.
In addition to these technical sessions, the students had the opportunity to visit a current Keepmoat Homes housing development in their local area, enjoying an exciting and informative tour of the Aurora site on Flass Lane. The Keepmoat Homes Site Manager showed the students each stage of the building process, from the foundations to the show homes, and the group were able to ask site workers questions about their roles and responsibilities and see demonstrations of site equipment.
Using the knowledge gained on the site visit and in school sessions, the students moved on to develop a presentation about their housing companies, outlining their journey throughout the project and explaining the choices they’d made about their own housing developments. The project culminated in a brilliant presentation evening at the Wakefield College University Centre, where the students’ families were invited along to see the fantastic work that their young people had been developing. Each group presented their ideas to a packed out lecture theatre, and the audience enjoyed an insightful question and answer session with industry professionals from Leeds College of Building and Keepmoat Homes.
During the post-project evaluation, the students reflected on their successes throughout the experience and spoke of developing both their confidence and relationships with students from a different school. There was a sense of real pride in the room, and it was evident that some great cross-school friendships had been forged throughout the project!
Feedback from staff and parents was also excellent, with all agreeing that the project and presentation evening had been a huge success. Speaking on the night, Airedale Academy’s Assistant Principal Tim-Tim Chambers said, “It has been great to see the result of the collaboration between Airedale Academy, Castleford Academy, NCOP and Keepmoat. The pupils had clearly not only enjoyed working on the project but had got such a lot out of it; they mentioned confidence building, teamwork, skills development, creativity to name but a few. The location was fabulous and to see the pupils present their work to so many people was amazing. All but two pupils came and the vast majority had parents and families with them. There was such a buzz about the place!”
Castleford Academy’s Higher Education Progression Officer, Sally Martin, was one of the key staff members who supported the project right the way through. Speaking of the experience, she said, “The project and presentation event have been great, and the parents who attended tonight were so pleased to see the work of their young people.”
Our Ovenden Photography Project
The Our Ovenden photography project was adapted and developed from an NCOP pilot photography project called ‘My Holmewood’ based at the TFD centre in Holmewood, Bradford. The idea of a photography project in a community setting like Holmewood and Ovenden was to get a group of young people and parents or carers together to explore what the area they live in represents to them, using a visual medium.
