SUN EVALUATION FRAMEWORK : UNI CONNECT PHASE 3
PURPOSE OF THE EVALUATION FRAMEWORK : The purpose of this framework is to provide information to stakeholders about :
1 . How the SUN aims to evaluate Uni Connect at a local level 2 . How the Uni Connect programme is evaluated at a national level 3 . Expectations on monitoring and evaluation for all Uni Connect-funded activity
WHAT IS THE UNI CONNECT PROGRAMME AND THE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITIES NETWORK ( SUN )?
Uni Connect aims to support the most disadvantaged young people in England to progress into higher education ( HE ). Uni Connect is funded by the Office for Students ( OfS ). For full information on the project please visit : https :// www . officeforstudents . org . uk / advice-and-guidance / promoting-equal-opportunities / uni-connect /
Phase 1 of the programme ceased on 31 st July 2019 . Phase 2 began on 1 st August 2019 and ran until 31 st July 2021 . Phase 3 of the programme began on 1 st August 2021 and will continue until 31 st July 2025 . Funding for the programme is reviewed annually by the OfS . As such , this evaluation framework will be reviewed annually to ensure our objectives are aligned with updated guidance from OfS . The programme consists of 29 partnerships across England undertaking outreach activity with specific groups of young people who are least likely to progress to a higher education qualification ( level 4 +).
UNI CONNECT Uni Connect supports young people to achieve their ambitions by helping them to overcome the barriers to higher education . It does this through supporting impartial , collaborative outreach . Phase 3 has four distinct strands :
1 . Targeted Outreach : This aims to help young people ( year 12 – 13 ) from targeted local areas make well-informed decisions about their future education ( residing in POLAR 3 Quintile 1 postcodes as identified by the OfS ).
2 . Strategic Outreach : This aims to support strategic activity and engagement to address local outreach gaps . Strategic Outreach students are selected based on a variety of criteria including :
• Home postcode – areas of low participation to HE ( both POLAR 4 Quintile 1 and TUNDRA LSOA / MSOA Quintile 1 ) and areas of deprivation ( IMD Quintile 1 , IDACI Quintile 1 , SEISA Decile 1 and 2 )
• Young Carer
• Care Experienced
• Estranged or in Kinship care
• Service Child
• Students with disabilities 3 . Attainment Raising : This aims to improve the academic attainment and progress of students ( year 7 – 11 ) and support their progression into higher education . The SUN will use the following measures to identify target schools :
• Progress 8 score is -0.5
• Number of students gaining 4-9 GCSEs is 49 % or less
In addition , the SUN will prioritise schools that also meet the following criteria :
• Eligibility for Free School Meals is higher than the national average ( 17.9 %)
• IMD Deprivation is 40 % or higher
• IDACI Deprivation is 40 % or higher
• POLAR 4 Quintile 1 is 50 % or higher
• TUNDRA LSOA Quintile 1 is 50 % or higher
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