A partnership that helps breaks down the barriers to higher education is celebrating its 5^th anniversary.

Building on an existing programme of outreach work, The University of Nottingham joined forces with IntoUniversity in 2011. In that time this partnership has enabled an additional 9,100 local young people to receive support and encouragement to do well at school and go on to university.

Three community learning centres set up in Nottingham provide 7-18-year-olds with after-school support, university-student mentors, workshops and direct experience of university life. They help to address the fact that families from Britain’s poorest backgrounds face a considerable educational disadvantage and are far less likely to aspire to or attend university than other families.

The success of the programme has seen it extended for another three years.

Dr Penelope Griffin, Head of Widening Participation and Outreach at The University of Nottingham, said:

“By working in partnership with IntoUniversity, we have more opportunities to inspire children and show them how to get results from hard work and commitment. We have been able to expand our reach into more primary schools and to work alongside more families in local communities.

“Teachers tell us that the activities young children do with IntoUniversity help to show the link between achievement at school and getting a good job. After-school Academic Support helps young people to feel confident about their school work and their future. We look forward to working together to support even more young people in the coming years.”

Dr Rachel Carr OBE, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of IntoUniversity, said:

“IntoUniversity is delighted to be celebrating five years of partnership with the University of Nottingham.

“From our three local learning centres based at the heart of the communities we serve, we have reached thousands of children and young people across the city of Nottingham, supporting them from a young age to aim high and achieve their educational potential.

“We look forward to continuing our successful partnership with the University of Nottingham and watching our students thrive in the years to come.”

Achievements over the last five years have seen 393 young people link up with a university student for mentoring sessions and 114 Focus weeks take place. Focus weeks involve Year 6 classes attending a centre for a week to learn around a curriculum-related topic, from electricity to Macbeth, as well as finding out what university is. It involves input from students and academic volunteers, a trip and ends with a visit to The University of Nottingham for a ‘graduation’ ceremony complete with gown and mortar board.