The project is a partnership between the University of Bristol and Teach First. It aims to raise attainment, aspirations and University applications of local students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
It is delivered through a range of interventions in schools within Bristol city and surrounding areas. Interventions comprise aspirational talks from mentors about their experiences as a student at the University of Bristol; a financial tool designed alongside colleagues in the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) to provide clear and individually tailored financial information highly relevant to pupils making post-18 career choices; and, direct assistance to study through targeted mentoring.
Project outcomes will feed into major research on how the aspirations and exam performance of disadvantaged school students can be improved through increasing the information and guidance available to young people.
Research Team: Professor Simon Burgess (Principal Investigator, CMPO), Dr Lindsey Macmillan(Institute of Education) Raj Chande ( CMPO, Behavioural Insights Team), Dr Michael Sanders (Behavioural Insights Team), Dr Catherine Dilnot (Oxford Brookes University)
Funder: University of Bristol Widening Participation Research Fund
Timescale: Awarded Spring 2013; full implementation September 2013 – July 2016 (3 years); analysis stage: August – December 2016.
Stage: Full implementation
