Giving talented disadvantaged students equal opportunity to access Higher Education and Apprenticeships
Why does Aspire Educational Mentoring exist?
Latest educational research data highlights that students from disadvantaged backgrounds compared to their non-disadvantaged peers are:
- Up to 25% less likely to gain a place at university and up to 6 times less likely to gain one at the most competitive institutions
- Over 3 times less likely to secure a higher level or degree apprenticeship
- Four times more likely to become socially mobile (in the top 20% of income earners by the age of 30) if they attend university or gain a degree- apprenticeship
According to the Sutton Trust, a leading social mobility think tank, a key factor in this inequality gap is that high ability disadvantaged students lack information, advice and guidance about the university and apprenticeship application process. In addition, lower socio-economic students are typically more likely to apply to courses that are easier to access in terms of grade requirements, rather than taking a risk on courses with higher entry requirements predominantly because they lack the guidance and support that would encourage them to effectively manage aspirational choices. Informed choices about future career pathway as are also hindered by students’ lack of role models or contacts in professional industries.
Everyone deserves an equal opportunity when it comes to the most important social mobility tool, education.To support this, Aspire Educational Mentoring aims to level the playing field between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged further education students through its unique mentoring and guidance programme.
Mission and Values
Our goal is to give talented disadvantaged students an equal opportunity when it comes to accessing competitive Higher Education institutions or Higher Level apprenticeships through the dedicated educational mentoring of highly experienced educational professionals. Working with our sponsors, we additionally aim to improve the cultural capital of disadvantaged students through access to opportunities and professionals that allow them to showcase and develop their unique talents.