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The package includes bursaries and scholarships for students from lower income households and other under-represented groups, and hardship funds.

Professor Debra Humphris, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, said: “This university has a strong and proud record of making Higher Education available to people from the entire spectrum of social and economic backgrounds. Indeed, we have a reputation as one of the country’s most socially-inclusive universities and we are determined to continue offering a high-quality education which is accessible to everyone.”

The university expects to spend £1.6 million on outreach measures, £5.2 million to help students progress and achieve success in their studies, and £2.2 million on student support. Support will also focus on raising attainment in schools through sponsorship.

Included this year is work by university’s Widening Participation (WP) Action Team designed to increase university wide support to promote success and progression for under-represented students.  This initiative will bring more focus, cohesion and consistency to the partnership of professional services and academic schools in delivering this aim.

Professor Debra Humphris

Year 9 and 10 Formula One Club, in association with Goodwood Motor Circuit, is a six-month project during which students build a racing car

The university’s WP Outreach work with schools was highlighted in OFFA’s latest report, detailing how the work has raised exam results among students prior to Year 11.

More than 77 per cent of the students taking part early in Key Stage 4 achieved five GCSEs at grades A*-C, compared to the national average school target of 42 per cent, and almost 90 per cent exceeded the average grade profile at their school.

Students also showed greater improvements in progression from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 4. In target schools, 81 per cent showed improved progression in English, compared to 63 per cent of non-participating students, and 78 per cent showed improved maths, compared to 57 per cent of non-participating students.

The university engages young people from primary school through to Year 13 as well as students on Access to Higher Education qualification courses.

The programme includes ‘Professor C. Gull’, the university's flagship primary schools project which acts as a guide to university for younger children and is part of the university's work to widen access to higher education for people from non-traditional backgrounds.

Michelle Tarling, the university’s WP Outreach Manager, said: “The programme offers a sustained programme of outreach with 30 schools in Sussex which meet certain criteria with regard to the number of students from groups under-represented in Higher Education.

“We work in our partner schools to deliver talks and activities that raise students' awareness of higher education and the opportunities that a university experience has to offer.

“We aim to ensure that students make the right choices over the subjects and qualifications they take at Key Stage 4, and that they maximise their chances of getting good grades at this level.

“Our subject-specific offer for students in years 7-11, delivered across our university campuses, has been developed in collaboration with our academic colleagues and designed to be delivered by student ambassadors. These student ambassador-led subject tasters are proving to be popular with schools and colleges. They give students an insight into subjects and modes of study at university and learning outcomes are pinned to the national curriculum.”

As well as the standard offer to schools in year 7-11 the outreach programme undertakes bespoke projects:

• The university works with three local Virtual Schools to provide aspiration raising activities for Looked after Children. 
• The Year 9 and 10 Fashion Club, in association with the National Saturday Club, is a six month project and includes trips to galleries and events in London, plus a fashion show for participants to showcase participants’ collections.  
• Year 9 and 10 Formula One Club, in association with Goodwood Motor Circuit, is a six month project during which students build a racing car.
• Year 11 Connected Hub Mentoring involves undergraduate students and mentor students at the Connected Hub Pupil Referral Unit.  Last year the Hub saw a rise in the number of students’ progression to Further Education – attributed to mentoring.

 You can find out more about the university's access agreement.