Tag: widening participation
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Education is for all
by Courtney, Year 12, Cumbria Education shouldn’t be a privilege; it’s a right for everyone. When The Access Project asked me to write something that I feel passionately about I chose education. Specifically, how students from “disadvantaged” backgrounds navigate their education whilst facing many different challenges. Students from said backgrounds deserve the same opportunities as… Read more
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The hidden deficit: why the university funding crisis is a social mobility crisis
by Eve Jacobs Here at The Access Project, we have been keeping a close eye on what is happening within the higher education sector. The landscape is changing, but what does this mean for our students? There is a squeeze across the whole UK university sector, driven by financial pressures and a shift within the… Read more
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“This trip has opened my eyes to the different pathways I can take”
The grounds of Magdalen College, University of Oxford, are beautiful on any given day, but on a sunny Monday in June they could not have looked better. Students from five of our London partner schools had the opportunity to experience a day at Magdalen. These high potential students are all enrolled on our Oxbridge Pathways… Read more
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Is university worth it? Higher education and social mobility
According to the British Social Attitudes Survey, a third of British people now think that university isn’t worth it, as reported by the BBC today. Here at The Access Project, our mission is to support young people to access top universities in order to achieve social mobility. This has always been our core focus as we strive for a fairer society where every young person,… Read more
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Third of university students come from the wealthiest backgrounds
Latest data from HESA shows that a third of British university students now come from the wealthiest backgrounds, suggesting a backwards step for social mobility. 31% of undergraduates now come from the highest socio‑economic group, up from 25% in 2021/22. Despite widening participation initiatives, of most concern is the sharp drop in the intake of students with parents working in semi-routine jobs, falling from 13%… Read more
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Founders’ Brunel Charity awards £60,000 to combat educational inequality
The Access Project is delighted to announce its partnership with the Founders’ Brunel Charity, which has awarded The Access Project a multi-year grant to tackle educational inequality. The Founders’ Brunel Charity will contribute £20,000 per year for three years through the Brunel Fund. This grant will support the delivery of The Access Project’s widening participation programme in two schools: Harris… Read more
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Impact report : Our year in voices
Introducing our impact report for 2024/25. ‘Our year in voices’ details our impact over the last academic year. Here we celebrate our successes and, more importantly, the successes of our students. Once again, we demonstrate that our intervention has a benchmark-beating impact on the young people we work with. And what is the difference we… Read more
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“I want to change the way we look at education” – Musab’s journey to higher education
Musab is a Year 12 student from the West Midlands. When he started his A levels, he joined The Access Project to give his university applications a boost. “I come from a low socio-economic background and the Access Project allows me to experience other opportunities that would otherwise only be available to someone from a… Read more
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From the East Midlands to Edinburgh: Riveen prepares for life at university
Picture the scene. It’s 14 August 2025 and the room is buzzing with excited yet nervous A level students, eagerly awaiting their results. Amongst the crowds at Ashfield School in Kirkby In Ashfield are 20 students enrolled on The Access Project, along with their University Access Officer, Clare. One of these students is Riveen. Applying… Read more
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Celebrating 10 years in the West Midlands with Ormiston Forge Academy and Imperial College London
At first glance, the gathering of pupils, parents, staff, and alumni at Ormiston Forge Academy on 8 July might have appeared like the usual end of term school celebrations. But this particular event was so much more than that. Staff from Imperial College London and the team from The Access Project were delighted to join… Read more