University projects

The trust currently runs annual summer school programmes at four leading universities: Bristol, Nottingham, St Andrews and Cambridge.

The Academic Enrichment Programme

In 2006 the Trust secured funding from the Goldman Sachs Foundation to run the Academic Enrichment Programme which will ultimately benefit 1,000 students over three years at Birmingham, Manchester and Nottingham Universities

The programme is modelled on the Trust's Masterclass scheme at Durham University, which have been running since 2002. The purpose of the scheme is to raise the aspirations and achievements of able young people from non-privileged backgrounds, by offering sustained support over a longer period of time.

The Academic Enrichment Programme will begin with a one-week summer school, followed by revision sessions, leadership training and personal development programmes. Participants will also be paired with an undergraduate student mentor who will provide on-going support and advice.

The programme is targeted at Year 12 students whose parents have not been to University and are in non-professional occupations.The first cohort of students attended the summer schools in July 2007.

University specific information on the programme is available from these sites:

• Birmingham
• Manchester
• Nottingham

Pathways to Law

The Pathways to Law programme is a joint initiative between the Sutton Trust and the College of Law, the leading educational charity for the legal profession. The programme is further supported by the leading law firms.

The programme is designed to attract fresh talent to the legal profession by targeting students from state schools who will be the first in their family to attend university, and whose parents are in non-professional occupations. It is aimed at schools which have a higher than average proportion of children on free school meals and very little history of sending young people to higher education.

The Pathways to Law programme is based on Pathways to Professions programme that has been running at University of Edinburgh since 2003. The need for this initiative is further supported by the Trust's 2005 survey on the educational backgrounds of the UK's top lawyers, which found that three out of four top judges, more than two-thirds of top barristers and more than half the partners at leading law firms had been educated at private schools, which account for 7% of the school age population.

The programme starts with the selection of eligible students when they are aged 15-16. It will offer participants careers advice and guidance on university applications in the sixth form, provide mentoring at school and university, and introduce them to contacts in the legal world, which will lead to invaluable work experience and placements with law firms and barristers' chambers.

It is intended that the scheme will reach 750 students a year by 2010. If all the Pathways students were to gain training contracts they would form about 12.5% of the 6,000 solicitors who start the next stage of their training each year.

University specific information on the programme is available from these sites:

• Leeds
• London School of Economics
• Manchester
• Southampton
• Warwick

Cambridge STEP Easter School
www.maths.cam.ac.uk/about/community

Sixth Term Examination Papers (STEP) are used to assess the potential of A grade A level mathematicians wishing to study mathematics at Cambridge. This four-day intensive Easter course will help academically able students from schools unable to offer the necessary assistance to prepare.

Imperial College Maths Summer School
www3.imperial.ac.uk/outreach/activitiesatimperialcollege/summerschools#maths_ss

This residential course offers 60 students the chance to take part in a range of mathematical investigations at the university, allowing the chance to improve GCSE knowledge, the role of maths in society, how to get a maths degree and what careers it can lead to. Designed for Year 10 and 11s only, this project offers a great opportunity for pupils to experience what university life is like.

Cambridge FE

Cambridge offers two summer schools with the Sutton Trust specially for students in Further Education. 'Aim Higher' is for 16 to 18 year olds, whilst 'Go Further' is specifically tailored for mature students - a significant but often neglected part of the FE population.

Exeter Biosciences
http://biosciences.exeter.ac.uk/latestnews/24_2007.php

Exeter University manages this initiative designed to encourage students to think about pursuing careers in science. Open to bright Year 11s from the local state schools who demonstrate scientific flair and come from less privileged backgrounds, this project provides the opportunity to participate in an array of exciting scientific activities, as well as gain an understanding of higher education. Pupils will also be able to attend a GCSE revision day to help them reach their potential in their exams.

HBOS Reach for Excellence
www.leeds.ac.uk/ace/access/rfe.htm

Managed by Leeds University and funded by HBOS and the Sutton Trust, Reach For Excellence aims to help 16 to 18 year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds in Yorkshire in getting a place at a top university. Students on this 2 year scheme will receive support to raise their aspirations through activities such as lectures, a summer schools, university visits and individual mentoring.

LEAPS
www.leapsonline.org

The Lothians Equal Access Programme for Schools (LEAPS) works to encourage and help disadvantaged and gifted young people from Edinburgh and the Lothians access higher education. Support includes a variety of events for S2 to S6-level run at universities and schools, as well as an 8 week summer school pre-university programme. LEAPS also provides information about all aspects of university life to parents and advisers.

LSE Choice
www.lse.ac.uk/collections/studentRecruitment/services/lsechoice.htm

Supported by the Sutton Trust and The Goldman Sachs Foundation, LSE Choice provides guidance and encouragement to gifted A-Level students from London state schools and colleges in accessing leading higher education institutions, such as LSE. 180 young people each year attend 16 Saturday sessions offering advice on university applications and tuition in one chosen subject. There is also a week long summer school at LSE, allowing students to get a flavour of university life with particular focus on their chosen subject.

Educated Pass
www.rals.ed.ac.uk/educatedpass

This project, managed by the University of Edinburgh with Edinburgh and Lothians youth football clubs, combines football and education to help raise the aspirations of 13 to 16 year old boys. Supported by the Scottish Youth Football Association (SYFA), this programme engages boys, their parents and their coaches with the educational opportunities on offer at local colleges and universities.

Teachers Together, University of St Andrews
www.st-andrews.ac.uk/teachers

The University of St Andrews hosts a free 3 day conference for Scottish science teachers, aiming to help teachers better prepare their students for the transition from school to university. The conference offers sessions specific to science, as well as guidance workshops which cover key issues such as UCAS applications and bursaries.

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