Reach for Excellence

Funded by Halifax in partnership with the Sutton Trust, Reach for Excellence is a two year initiative run in partnership with the University of Leeds which aims to raise the aspirations of non-privileged young people who have the potential to attend research-led universities. 

The participants are from schools and colleges with low higher-education participation rates in the area around the university.  The young people receive a comprehensive package of guidance throughout their sixth form studies, including subject taster sessions, study skills workshops, impartial pre-entry guidance, financial literacy sessions, e-mentoring and a residential summer school.  All of these elements are designed to raise aspirations, boost confidence, and provide accurate and realistic guidance.

As with all major Sutton Trust projects, the impact of Reach for Excellence is being rigorously assessed.  The National Foundation for Educational Research is conducting an evaluation of the programme over five years using a control group of young people from similar backgrounds and abilities.  The first results of the research shows that the programme is successfully reaching those it is designed to help, with 86 percent being first generation university applicants and 85 percent gaining between nine and 18 GCSEs graded A* to C.  Crucially the analysis underlines the difference Reach for Excellence is making to young people, with students on the programme being twice as likely as similar students in the comparison group to enter a research-led university.