About

This blog presents findings from Raising and Sustaining Aspiration in City Schools,a project funded bythe Citi Foundation.The Citi Foundation has supported Oxford undergraduates from lower-income families between 2001 and 2012 through the Citi Foundation Bursaries scheme. The Bursary scheme has provided the University with funding to support over 150 students, since the scheme began. The Foundation has funded the current study in the light of their interests in widening participation and access activities, with a view to the findings informing future practice at both the university of oxford and other institutions across the UK.

Over  the academic year 2012-2013 a team from Oxford University Department of Education examined  how Year 9 students at four Oxford city secondary schools thought about university. A major focus was how Higher Education featured in their projected learning trajectories and expectations for their futures, at the point when they were selecting school subjects for further study. As background we also needed to understand the nature of the relationship between Oxford University and local schools and therefore  interviewed university and school staff. The present report, however, focuses primarily on data gathered with Year 9 school students.

The findings are organised according the sources of understanding from which students derive ideas about university and create images of their future selves. While recognising the interconnected nature of these sources of understanding, we identify understandings derived from three sources: from their school experiences; from family influences; and from wider cultural representations.

The study indicates that that school, family and broader popular discourse appear to contribute to students’ lack of understanding  about Higher Education, and can serve to perpetuate the continued mystification of university as a possible future option in students’ learning trajectories. Scroll through the pages of this blog to explore the key findings and leave your own comments and reflections on the issues that are raised.