What is Aimhigher?
The national Aimhigher programme was launched in response to the government’s 2001 pledge to

 ‘’see 50% of young adults progressing to higher education by 2010’’.

In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to ‘widen participation’ in higher education by increasing the take-up of higher education by groups of young people who, for a number of reasons, are currently under-represented.

What is ‘widening participation’?
Despite having the potential to progress on to higher education, many young people from certain social groups do not take up the opportunity. Widening participation attempts to promote higher education specifically to these groups and to provide them with the skills and opportunities to ensure that they can take full advantage of the many benefits that higher education can bring.

Why is widening participation important?
Young people and their families must have the opportunity to realise their potential and improve their quality of life. It is vital for social cohesion and social mobility. Equally, if we are to ensure that as a country we are able to compete in the global economy, it is essential that we maximise all of the talent at our disposal.

Why does Nottinghamshire need an Aimhigher programme?
Nottinghamshire was once a thriving industrial and agricultural county, renowned for its coal mining and textiles industries as well as its rich cultural heritage. Today, the picture is very different. Although the City of Nottingham contains a number of prosperous suburbs, as a whole it is one of the most deprived areas in England. It also has the highest concentration of deprivation in the East Midlands. Plus, in the county of Nottinghamshire there are, in parts, significant levels of deprivation which are characterised by low levels of educational attainment and progression.

What does Aimhigher Nottinghamshire do?

Our vision
Aimhigher Nottinghamshire is committed to improving the prospects of young people in Nottinghamshire by working in partnership to raise aspirations, improve attainment and increase participation in higher education through different routes and opportunities.

Our aims
Aimhigher activities and interventions are offered within a learner framework that recognises the needs of individuals at key transition points and builds on their previous experiences.

We work with the schools and colleges that serve the most disadvantaged communities to introduce and implement this approach with an identified cohort within their institutions.

We have identified the following broad learner outcomes that could be achieved through Aimhigher interventions:

1. awareness of progression opportunities
2. aspiration to progress to higher education
3. improved attainment and skills to achieve progression
4. ability to identify choices and make appropriate decisions.

Our partners
Aimhigher Nottinghamshire works with local authorities, schools, colleges and training providers, to identify those students who have the potential to progress to higher education, but lack the heritage. In addition, we work in partnership with local further and higher education institutions and third party providers to deliver a broad range of activities to increase attainment and aspiration to higher education for selected students from years 9-13.