Fairness for Your Future? Don't Aim Higher: Get Real & Limit Your Ambitions

Aim Higher is an organisation that promotes access to Higher Education amongst non traditional groups. You know the ones I mean; bright young people who may have a series of factors that mean that they are less, rather than more likely to go to University. Aim Higher provides structured mentoring in their schools, access to a vast range of University experiences in years 10,11 and the sixth form and engagement with professionals who have "been there and done it." In any sane world it would be seen as a rock-solid investment in our collective futures. The government is withdrawing its funding-a paltry £78 Million.

True to form the coalition states that Universities will need to demonstrate that they are engaging with students from non-traditional backgrounds: if this is the case, the need to get their collective fingers out-Aim Higher Funding finishes in July.

It has been my privilege to work within Aim Higher's network in the West Midlands-working our way though a collective approach to Safeguarding Young People on Residential Summer Schools. There were 14 or so Universities involved meaning that learners from Coventry could go on a programme in Worcester, young people from Birmingham could experience programmes in Warwick and so on, all delivered by highly qualified University Lecturers and supported by well-trained and organised Aim Higher workers.This year, on one programme alone, somewhere in the region of 1200 young people benefited from the experience in the West Midlands and engagement in schools continues to be a major factor in motivating young people who-I restate-may come from disadvantaged backgrounds where expectations of progression into Higher Education are low.

There's an almost casual shrug to the assertion that Universities will, post Aim-Higher-need to show that they are engaging with non-traditional, disadvantaged groups. Unless there is some sharp thinking as to how they might work together to keep the collective knowledge, connections and excellent practice that exists within Aim Higher I can foresee expertise, creativity and money being wasted in the name of the pinch-faced dogma that masquerades as policy.
To conclude-the Coalitions's Spin Doctors seemed to have insisted that the words "Fair" and "Fairness" be dropped into conversations whenever possible. I'd be fascinated to hear how we match the concept of "fair" with the decimation of an organisation designed to deliver fairness to our future.