What is Education, guest lecturer.

What is Education with guest lecturer Alice Davies, who is involved with South West Wales Reaching Wider Partnership. She described Widening access (WA) as increasing opportunities for people from a diverse range of backgrounds to benefit from Higher Education (HE).

We must widen the spectrum of access in to Higher Education as social classes A B and C1 dominate HE and Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation shows that poverty persists to not gain access to universities or Higher Education.

Widening Access aims to increase the number of people from ‘under-represented’ groups in Higher Education. For example, people from black and ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities, people from low income families and the disenfranchised youth of today’s society.

Communities first looked at the WIMD (2000) – Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation, income, employment, health, education, housing and access to services. They found that there were 100 areas that were most deprived (CF areas). These areas were shown to us on a slide.

She went on to talk about HEFCW Widening Access Funding (HE Funding Council Wales). They helped people to plan their fees, people who are disabled or on low income. Reaching wider was established in 2002 by HEFCW. It was created to look after young people in deprived areas, care leavers, disabled, ethnic and welsh speakers.

There were three Regional Partnerships, North and Mid Wales, First Campus – South East and South West Wales Partnership. The members of this this partnership were, HE (leading), FE, local authorities, Careers Wales, Third Sector and Communities First. There aims were to encourage progression to higher education, assist with enhancing achievement, work with severe relative social disadvantage and focus on underrepresented communities. They strive to raise aspiration and attainment.

They have a progressive programme which stems from primary education to year 13. The programme is designed to help children make the right choices for themselves whether they want to go into Higher education or not. The programme will help boost GCSE results, attendance, retention in FE, progression to HE and impact Measurement.

Their future aim is to have Contextual admissions, more HE in FE, more part time study/distance learning and more Adult Education.