An inspirational programme designed and delivered by staff at Canterbury Christ Church University that supports and encourages local students to study STEM subjects has been nominated for a prestigious award.

Nominated for the NEON Widening Access Initiative Award (Outreach), Inspiring Minds embodies the University’s ethos that education is a transformative power. Built around informal science learning and aimed at filling a skills and gender gap in STEM, the programme has also been used as evidence in a government report to show how outreach interventions raise aspirations and develop confidence in students and enable a true levelling-up agenda.

Data collected shows how the initiative is having demonstrable success and a significant positive impact on the aspiration and attainment of students participating.

Following the programme:

• participants were 26% more likely to achieve a 9 to 4 pass in Maths (64%) than the non-participant group (38%)
• 7% more likely to achieve a 9 to 4 pass in Science (32%) than the non-participant group (24%)
• 13% more likely to achieve a 9-4 pass in English and Maths (45%) than the non-participant group (32%)
• 64% agreed that the activities left them feeling motivated to study STEM post 16
• 68% agreed that taking part encouraged them to explore Higher Education (HE)
• 75% felt the projects helped them understand the links between science and other subjects.

The project is funded by KAMCOP and works in collaboration with the University’s LASAR Research Centre. It includes a six-session programme targeted towards less advantaged and under-represented students in HE, focussing on building confidence and awareness of STEM in a multidisciplinary context. As well as residential summer schools which helps students understand HE more generally.

Canterbury Christ Church University KaMCOP Project Manager, Stefan Colley, said: “We are delighted to receive this nomination by NEON. We are all so proud of the amazing Inspiring Minds Scholars who have participated in the programme and their achievements so far into the world of STEM.

“This pioneering programme show how outreach interventions can raise aspirations and develop confidence in students. The success of this project has only been possible because of the collaboration between outstanding academics and dedicated colleagues and student ambassadors who work with our local schools and colleges, and we look forward to working with many more, especially as we are now expanding Inspiring Minds to work with more year groups.”

The NEON Awards celebrate the transformative power that HE can have and recognises key achievements in the widening access sector and enabling social mobility.

Nominees for the NEON Widening Access Initiative Award (Outreach) Award must show evidence of how their initiative has made a tangible impact on either the aspirations of learners regarding HE, information and knowledge of learners regarding HE, learner attainment, progression to HE or attitudes/knowledge of HE of the parents/professionals who support learners.

The Awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, 11 May at Portcullis House, Westminster.