Widening Access and Participation Programmes

We work with a range of stakeholders, including schools and colleges, parents and carers and other like-minded organisations to ensure that entry to university is based on merit and academic potential, and not social background, ethnicity, gender or other factors. Much of our work depends on close liaison with other areas of the University, including academic departments, colleges, professional support services and current undergraduate and postgraduate students. We also liaise with many national organisations and actively contribute to and influence national policies on fair access.

Widening Access and Participation are specifically concerned with:

• Working nationally to encourage gifted applicants from underrepresented groups to apply and enrol at Durham
• Forming partnerships both regionally and nationally with schools, colleges and other relevant institutions and organisations
• Working with young people with little or no aspiration towards or experience of higher education, to encourage them to fulfil their potential
• Actively supporting the implementation of the University’s Access and Participation Plan

In undertaking these responsibilities Access and Engagement delivers a wide variety of activity including:

• The Supported Progression Programme
• Sutton Trust Summer Schools
• Space to Explore Potential (STEP) programme
• Support for those who have spent time in local authority care and students estranged from their families