About this site
This website was originally developed with funding from the regional office of Aimhigher. It is a development of the Apprenticesgohigher website, launched in 2004 but removed in 2009 and a replacement for two previous South Yorkshire Aimhigher funded sites.

This site contains more information and case studies and a fully searchable database of the higher-level courses that apprentices and vocational learners can access across Yorkshire and the Humber.

The co-authors are David Fisher, DAVICI Consulting and David Berry, project manager for Aimhigher in South Yorkshire. The website was produced by Pixel Play.

The site has been extensively updated (2009) to take into account the many changes that are occurring nationally, such as careers advice in relation to Connexions and NextStep; Apprenticeships such as the National Apprenticeship Service; changes to Government departments; and the many mergers between colleges across the region.

About Aimhigher
Aimhigher is a national programme which aims to widen participation in higher education (HE) by raising the aspirations and developing the abilities of young people from under-represented groups.

The Government has set a target that, by the year 2010, 50 per cent of those aged between 18 and 30 should have the opportunity to benefit from higher education.

The role of Aimhigher is to:

• Raise aspirations and motivation to enter HE among young people in schools, further education and workplace learning, who are from under-represented groups • Raise the attainment of potential HE students, who are from under-represented groups, so that they gain the academic or vocational qualifications and learning skills that will enable them to enter HE • Strengthen progression routes into HE via vocational courses, including Apprenticeships, whether they are delivered in schools, colleges or the workplace
• Raise students’ aspirations to enter HE and to apply to the institution and/or course best able to match their abilities
• Improve the attainment, aspirations, motivation and self-esteem of gifted and talented young people aged 14-19; and the quality of identification, provision and support for those students in schools and colleges

Jointly funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (DfES), the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), the Aimhigher programme operates across nine regional partnerships and 45 area partnerships throughout England.

In 2009 DIUS was absorbed into a new ministry for Business, Innovation and Skills

Aimhigher encompasses a wide range of activities to engage and motivate students and young people aged 13-30 from all walks of life, who have the potential to enter higher education but are under-achieving, undecided or lacking in confidence. The programme particularly focuses on young people from disadvantaged social and economic backgrounds, ethnic minority communities and the disabled, by:

• Offering information, advice and guidance to potential HE students and their teachers and families so that learners are well advised about their future
• Organising summer schools, taster days, master classes and mentoring schemes to raise the aspirations and attainment of young people with the potential to enter HE
• Working with employers and training providers to progress students onto vocational and work-based learning routes to HE
• Working to encourage those already in the workplace to become full-time, part-time or distance learning students

Activities at a regional and area level are supported by national Aimhigher activity, including a roadshow for schools and colleges, the Aimhigher portal website (www.aimhigher.ac.uk) and a range of information booklets about HE aimed at practitioners, stakeholders and the target cohort.

The national Aimhigher programme began on 1 August 2004 as a result of the integration of two previously existing programmes - Excellence Challenge and Aimhigher: Partnerships for Progression. Although funding was due to end in 2008, additional funding at a reduced level was provided to allow work to continue until 2011.

Aimhigher in the region
To find out what activities Aimhigher is working on in Yorkshire and the Humber, go to the Regional Information section where you will find details on each of the sub-regional Aimhigher groups.