A Holistic, Year-Long Programme
Our programme starts in the summer after Year 10. Combining two university residentials and regular coaching, our programme is designed to help raise students' aspirations, gain familiarity with university, develop their confidence, and boost attainment at GCSE.
What We Do
Our year-long programme starts in the summer of Year 10 and supports students from non-selective state schools throughout Year 11. Our programme involves three key elements:
Year 10 residential at a highly-selective university
Monthly online coaching
Year 11 GCSE revision weekend.
What Makes Our Programme Different?
Universify’s programme begins earlier in a student’s journey to higher education than many university access programmes. We raise participants' aspirations throughout Year 11, to help them work towards the best GCSE grades possible and think beyond school about their next steps in education.
Universify's programme is included in the University of Oxford's 4-year Access and Participation Plan, now approved by the Office for Students, under the group of interventions aiming to raise attainment in schools. The inclusion of our programme recognises the impact-driven approach which Universify's work rests on to ensure we support our participants effectively.
Our Year 10 Residential
Universify participants are introduced to our year-long programme through a they six-day university residential in Year 10.
This residential gives participants a snapshot of life as an undergraduate university student as they attend academic seminars taught by university lecturers, complete a group work project, and take part in various social activities. Participants live in student accommodation and explore the city, helping them to feel comfortable in the university setting and easing concerns that they might feel out of place. The Year 10 residential brings together students from across the country to develop a supportive community of peers.
An Undergraduate Experience
We run lectures and seminars delivered by academics in a range of subjects to highlight what the disciplines may entail at university-level. In addition, participants experience subjects they may never have encountered before, such as Philosophy, Medicine and Economics, providing them with knowledge to make informed decisions about future subject choices and career paths.
Achieving Academic Goals Through Coaching
Each Universify participant will have their own Universify coach. Their coach works with their coachee to set goals, outline actions to work towards them, and review their progress. After meeting their coach on the Year 10 residential, participants catch up remotely with their coaches online, so they can continue to work towards their goals until participants complete their GCSEs and get their results in August.
Preparing for GCSEs
Participants return to their host university in March or April of Year 11 for a three-day revision residential. Over the weekend participants receive eight hours of revision classes in a core subjects focusing on exam technique and course content, and a workshop on exam preparation. Our Year 11 residential is also about looking towards the future after the Universify programme, with sessions from follow-on programmes participants can apply to, and a careers fair to explore the range of opportunities a university degree can offer.
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