its not life or death it is more important than that dr. damian okane
TRANSCRIPT
It’s Not Life or Death
it is more important
than thatDr. Damian O’Kane
Participation Success
• Target
• Engage
• pre-entry grades
• Remove barriers to HE
• Retention
Employability
• Qualifications
•Gain & Retain employment
STEP UP TO SCIENCE
To provide an opportunity for socially
disadvantaged pupils, who have
relatively low attainment levels and
expectations, to gain entry to and
complete programmes of study at
higher education institutions
General Aim
• To encourage the development of subject specific and general transferable skills to assist in the transition from school to university.
• To provide these students with ongoing assistance and support to aid successful completion of degree level programmes.
• To encourage participation in university education by students who previously might not have considered this an educational option.• To improve pupils academic performance
Specific Aims
• Social Deprivation Indicators
- Townsend Deprivation Index
- Free-School Meal Entitlement
• Current Academic Achievement
- 11+ Selection System
- Progression to Higher Education
Selection of Schools
Clondermot High School 28.86
Faughan Valley High School 38.52
Oakgrove Integrated College 29.50
St. Cecilia’s College 58.38
St. Joseph’s Secondary School 55.07
St. Mary’s College 64.12
St. Peter’s High School 74.73
St. Brigid’s High School 68.70
Templemore Secondary School 72.50
Northern Ireland Average 23.90
Free School Meal EntitlementSchool Percentage
• Less than 2% of the target schools intake in any year progress to higher education compared to a province wide Age Participation Index of 42%.
Current School Performance
• The average A-Level or equivalent points score for students across all the target schools is less than eight.
Student Selection• Little or no parental experience of higher education
• Limited family income
• Unskilled, semi-skilled or unemployed parent
• Living in a neighbourhood or other circumstances not conducive to study
• Living in an environment that has been seriously affected by political unrest
Student Background
• 75% long-term unemployed• 89% rented accommodation• 48% single parent families• Siblings=5 bedrooms=3• 2 parents have HE experience• 13 single-parents
Strategy
Tutoring
Summer School
University Induction
Mentoring
Engagement Participation
Retention
Success
Employability
• Advice days and induction – pupils & Parents
• Psychological Disposition
- motivation
- perception & attitudes to education
- self-efficacy (competence)
- Self-Esteem (personal & social value)
- Locus of Control (internal v external)
Engagement
Tutoring
• School curriculum linked to UG programme
• Provide students with experience of university teaching, research &
assessment methods
• Develop subject knowledge and specific transferable skills.
• Familiarity with campus life/resources
• PG Mentors
• Course/careers information
Summer SchoolIntensive Eight-day residential Science Summer School to develop additional skills and knowledge.
• formal timetabled lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical classes which will be delivered by academic staff.
• more informal project based work which will be coordinated by ‘Postgraduate Mentors’.
University Induction• Academic
- Study skills & Examination technique
- Time Management
- Course Requirements
- Mentors (senior & subject)
• Pastoral
- Finance
- Student Support : Counselling/welfare
- Project Team/Academic staff
MentoringOngoing assistance and support to aid successful completion of degree level programmes
• Mentors
- Scheduled academic support
- Monitoring & Feedback
• Host Department
- Adviser of studies
• University Student Affairs Dept
• ‘Step-Up’ Project Team
Outcome • Improved Grades : 99.8% Pass Rate
• Encourage Applications to HE: 97% progressing to higher education
• Completion of degree level programmes:
- 95% Retention
- 2% course choice
- 2% year ‘out’
- 1% ‘never to return’
“I was one of the first students to do the Step-Up programme. I found it very daunting at first –
it is hard work – but the experience really encouraged
me and gave me the confidence to study at University. I never dreamt that I would be able to attain so much – but thanks to
Step-Up I have.”
Catherine is a past St Mary’s College Step-Up Student.
• Focused Pre-Entry Intervention
• Curriculum : linked to employer needs
- Placement/Job-Shop
• Career Advice & Guidance
Employability
• 12 of 16 most deprived wards
• 17% never worked
• 35% Claim unemployment benefits
• 12 of 14 most deprived ‘health’ wards
• 42% of population –No Qualification / 15% level 1
• Low progression rate to HE
Expansion – Greater Belfast
Greater Belfast -$3.2m Programme• Five - Seven Year programme
• Cross-Community / Interface Areas
• Transport Solutions
• Political Considerations