Access to Sheffield (Y9-11)

Access to Sheffield (Y9-11) is a sustained engagement programme at The University of Sheffield, designed to support students from target groups who are underrepresented in higher education.

The programme provides Year 9-11 students in South Yorkshire with an opportunity to experience student life at Sheffield and explore how their subject choices at GCSE and Post-16 can open doors to a wide range of future pathways and careers. Through a series of on-campus mini-lectures, subject tasters and advice and guidance sessions, students learn more about university study and the skills needed to progress to higher education.

Participants also have the opportunity to experience the social side of university life through a residential summer school, where they work closely with current undergraduate students to get an authentic feel for student life and the skills required to support their wider life experiences.

The programme consists of a sequential curriculum which is underpinned by the Skill Builder framework, allowing students to practise and demonstrate essential skills that develop their academic confidence and self-efficacy.

To understand the impact of the programme and measure progress in skill building, participants complete Skills Builder Benchmark at the start and end of the programme. The resulting skill scores allow students to celebrate their achievements and identify areas for future development.

Through participating in Access to Sheffield (Y9-11), students are able to reflect on their own skill set and the importance of skills for academic success, in order to support their personal development and progression to higher education.