Programme

Encourage selected students to start thinking about their future goals

Help students build up skills, such as communication, teamwork, and leadership, to support them in their school careers and beyond.

Our aim is to nurture and develop students' passion of finding out more information about higher education by working in partnership with local schools.
Raise aspirations and encourage selected students to start thinking about their future goals.
Help students build up skills, such as communication, teamwork, and leadership, to support them in their school careers and beyond.

The first workshop is delivered in Year 7 to the whole year group.

Following this, schools identify approximately 40 pupils meeting at least one of the following criteria who are offered the remaining workshops:

Live in a POLAR 4, Quintile 1 or 2 area (check if your home postcode is eligible)
Attend a school or college in a POLAR 4, Quintile 1 or 2 area (check if your school postcode is eligible)
Come from a home where neither parent has attended a university in the UK or abroad
Have a disability or are in receipt of a personal independence payment
Is a care leaver or has experience of being looked after by a local authority
Have been in receipt of free school meals at any point over the last three years
Belong to any of the following groups: Gypsy, Roma, Traveller communities, refugees, children of military families

The Aspire to Aston Progression Programme consists of five different workshops, organised by age cohort. The workshops include:

Aspire to Know workshop: Consists of an Introduction to University session at school that provides an overview of higher education to all Year 7 pupils. It covers topics such as the value of going to university, the courses, accommodation, clubs and societies available.
Aspire to Explore workshop: Designed for Year 8 or Year 9 pupils. It consists of a campus experience day to experience what it is like to be a student for a day. The pupils will be able to hear from current pupils about their experiences as well as get the opportunity to tour the campus.
Aspire to Learn workshop: Helps Year 8 or 9 pupils think about their GCSE choices and future options.
Aspire to Succeed workshop: Supports Year 10 pupils gain transferrable and employability skills such as interview techniques.
Aspire to Achieve workshop: Offered to Year 11 pupils and aims to help them with revision and exam techniques, such as structuring essays and creating study timetables.