Company number: 12497951
6 Sutton Park Road, Sutton, SM1 2GD

Access and Participation Statement

Policy Statement

The School is committed to advancing educational access and participation for all individuals. We actively engage stakeholders, provide staff training, and implement supportive measures, including personal academic tutoring and a dedicated Student Success Team By continuously monitoring and evaluating our practices, we ensure an inclusive environment where every student is empowered to achieve their aspirations and succeed.

Principles

Inclusivity: Creating an accessible and supportive environment for students from all backgrounds.
Diversity: Valuing and promoting a diverse student population as a source of richness and variety in educational experience.
Equity: Striving for fairness and equity of access to all School programmes and facilities.
Outreach: Proactively engaging with underrepresented groups to encourage and facilitate access to higher education.
Support: Providing tailored support to ensure all students can fully participate and succeed in their studies.
Progression: Enabling smooth transitions into, through, and out of higher education for all students.
Success: Ensuring all students have the opportunity to achieve successful outcomes from their study.
Fair Representation: Aiming for a student body that reflects society’s diversity at all levels of study.
Collaboration: Working collaboratively with external organisations to foster wider access.
Continuous Improvement: Regularly reviewing and improving approaches to access and participation.
Transparency: Communicating access and participation strategies, actions, and outcomes clearly to all stakeholders.
Accountability: Taking responsibility for advancing access and participation, with regular monitoring of progress and outcomes.

Regulatory Context

This Policy has been developed in line with the applicable laws, regulations, regulatory advice, and sector best practices, including the following:

Authority	Name	Url
Office for Students (OfS)	Regulatory Notices and Advice Regulatory notices are additional information about OfS' regulatory requirements and are part of the regulatory framework. Regulatory advice helps providers understand and meet OfS requirements.
UK Government	Equality Act 2010 Equalities law to prohibit harassment and victimisation, and eliminate discrimination, including in the area of further and higher education, particularly with regards to specified personal characteristics.
Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)	The Quality Code This code represents a shared understanding of quality practice across the UK higher education sector, protecting public and student interests and championing the UK's reputation for quality.
Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)	Advice - Admissions, Recruitment and Widening Access
Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)	Advice - Enabling Student Achievement

Authority

Name

Url

Office for Students (OfS)

Regulatory Notices and Advice
Regulatory notices are additional information about OfS' regulatory requirements and are part of the regulatory framework. Regulatory advice helps providers understand and meet OfS requirements.

UK Government

Equality Act 2010
Equalities law to prohibit harassment and victimisation, and eliminate discrimination, including in the area of further and higher education, particularly with regards to specified personal characteristics.

Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)

The Quality Code
This code represents a shared understanding of quality practice across the UK higher education sector, protecting public and student interests and championing the UK's reputation for quality.

Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)

Advice - Admissions, Recruitment and Widening Access

Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)

Advice - Enabling Student Achievement

Purpose

Title
Advice Introduction The School is committed to promoting access and participation in higher education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented groups. As an institution of higher education, we recognise our responsibility to ensure that every individual with the talent, potential, and ambition to study at the School can do so regardless of their background, race, gender, or socio-economic status. This Access and Participation Statement outlines the School's approach to creating a supportive, inclusive, and accessible environment that enables every student to achieve their full potential.

Title

Advice
Introduction

The School is committed to promoting access and participation in higher education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented groups. As an institution of higher education, we recognise our responsibility to ensure that every individual with the talent, potential, and ambition to study at the School can do so regardless of their background, race, gender, or socio-economic status. This Access and Participation Statement outlines the School's approach to creating a supportive, inclusive, and accessible environment that enables every student to achieve their full potential.

Access

Title
Advice Fair and Equal Access The School is committed to providing fair and equal opportunities for all students to access higher education. However, we understand that barriers to access exist, particularly for those from underrepresented groups and disadvantaged backgrounds. To address this, the School has developed a range of initiatives that aim to widen access to higher education. The School works with schools and Schools to raise aspirations and provide information and guidance on higher education. We also offer targeted outreach activities to underrepresented groups, including summer schools, taster days, and mentoring schemes. Additionally, we have implemented contextual admissions policies that consider an applicant's background and circumstances when considering their application. We believe these measures help reduce barriers and ensure that it is possible for any student to apply and succeed at the School.

Title

Advice
Fair and Equal Access

The School is committed to providing fair and equal opportunities for all students to access higher education. However, we understand that barriers to access exist, particularly for those from underrepresented groups and disadvantaged backgrounds. To address this, the School has developed a range of initiatives that aim to widen access to higher education.

The School works with schools and Schools to raise aspirations and provide information and guidance on higher education. We also offer targeted outreach activities to underrepresented groups, including summer schools, taster days, and mentoring schemes. Additionally, we have implemented contextual admissions policies that consider an applicant's background and circumstances when considering their application. We believe these measures help reduce barriers and ensure that it is possible for any student to apply and succeed at the School.

Participation

Title
Advice All Students can Participate The School is committed to ensuring that all students can participate fully in higher education, regardless of their background or circumstances. We recognise that some students may face additional challenges in participating in higher education, and we are committed to supporting them to overcome these challenges. We provide a range of support services and resources to help students succeed academically and personally. Our dedicated student support teams offer advice and guidance on a range of issues, including financial support, disability support, mental health, and well-being. We also offer a range of academic support services, including study skills workshops, academic writing support, and one-to-one tutoring. The School is committed to creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment that values diversity and promotes equality. We actively promote a culture of respect and tolerance and celebrate our student body's diversity. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion has informed our policies, procedures, and practices, including staff training and development programs.

Title

Advice
All Students can Participate

The School is committed to ensuring that all students can participate fully in higher education, regardless of their background or circumstances. We recognise that some students may face additional challenges in participating in higher education, and we are committed to supporting them to overcome these challenges.

We provide a range of support services and resources to help students succeed academically and personally. Our dedicated student support teams offer advice and guidance on a range of issues, including financial support, disability support, mental health, and well-being. We also offer a range of academic support services, including study skills workshops, academic writing support, and one-to-one tutoring.

The School is committed to creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment that values diversity and promotes equality. We actively promote a culture of respect and tolerance and celebrate our student body's diversity. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion has informed our policies, procedures, and practices, including staff training and development programs.

Retention and Success

Title
Advice Supporting Students to Succeed The School is committed to supporting students to succeed and achieve their full potential. We recognise that some students may face additional challenges in completing their studies, and we are committed to providing the necessary support to help them succeed. We provide a range of academic and personal support services to help students stay on track and achieve their academic goals. This includes one-to-one tutoring, academic writing support, and pastoral care. We also offer a range of financial support packages to help students with the cost of living and studying, including bursaries, scholarships, and hardship funds. The School is committed to monitoring the progress and achievement of all students, and we use this information to identify and address any barriers to success. We work closely with students to develop individualised support plans, and we regularly review and evaluate our support services to ensure that they effectively promote student success.

Title

Advice
Supporting Students to Succeed

The School is committed to supporting students to succeed and achieve their full potential. We recognise that some students may face additional challenges in completing their studies, and we are committed to providing the necessary support to help them succeed.

We provide a range of academic and personal support services to help students stay on track and achieve their academic goals. This includes one-to-one tutoring, academic writing support, and pastoral care. We also offer a range of financial support packages to help students with the cost of living and studying, including bursaries, scholarships, and hardship funds.

The School is committed to monitoring the progress and achievement of all students, and we use this information to identify and address any barriers to success. We work closely with students to develop individualised support plans, and we regularly review and evaluate our support services to ensure that they effectively promote student success.

Conclusion

Title
Advice Overcoming Barriers to Access and Participation The School is committed to promoting access and participation in higher education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented groups. We recognise that there are barriers to access and participation, and we are committed to reducing these barriers and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed at the School. We are proud of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, which is fundamental to our mission as an institution of higher education. We will continue to work tirelessly to promote access and participation in higher education and to support every student to achieve their full potential.

Title

Advice
Overcoming Barriers to Access and Participation

The School is committed to promoting access and participation in higher education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented groups. We recognise that there are barriers to access and participation, and we are committed to reducing these barriers and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed at the School.

We are proud of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, which is fundamental to our mission as an institution of higher education. We will continue to work tirelessly to promote access and participation in higher education and to support every student to achieve their full potential.

Metrics and KPIs

The following metrics will be measured and regularly reviewed as key performance indicators for the School to ensure the effectiveness of this policy and associated operations.

Title
Diversity of Student Recruitment Monitor the percentage of new students from diverse backgrounds (e.g., ethnicity, socio-economic status). Ensures that recruitment efforts are successfully attracting a diverse student body, aligning with the School’s commitment to inclusivity.
Feedback Implementation Rate Track the percentage of student feedback that leads to tangible changes in access and participation policies. Target: 80% of actionable feedback addressed annually. Ensures that student feedback directly informs and improves policies and practices, enhancing the relevance and effectiveness of support services.
Retention Rate of First-Year Students Measure the percentage of first-year students who continue into their second year. Target: 90% retention rate annually. A high retention rate often correlates with effective support systems and successful integration of students into the academic environment.
Student Engagement in Outreach Activities Measure the percentage of students participating in outreach activities designed to encourage access and retention, such as mentoring or community projects. Target: 50% of students annually. Engagement in outreach activities reflects the School’s efforts to enhance access and participation and ensures students are actively involved in initiatives that support their development.
Student Satisfaction with Access Services Conduct annual surveys to measure student satisfaction with access and participation services. Target: Achieve an average satisfaction score of 85% or higher. Provides direct feedback from students on the effectiveness of access services, guiding improvements and ensuring that services meet student needs.

Title

Diversity of Student Recruitment
Monitor the percentage of new students from diverse backgrounds (e.g., ethnicity, socio-economic status).
Ensures that recruitment efforts are successfully attracting a diverse student body, aligning with the School’s commitment to inclusivity.

Feedback Implementation Rate
Track the percentage of student feedback that leads to tangible changes in access and participation policies. Target: 80% of actionable feedback addressed annually.
Ensures that student feedback directly informs and improves policies and practices, enhancing the relevance and effectiveness of support services.

Retention Rate of First-Year Students
Measure the percentage of first-year students who continue into their second year. Target: 90% retention rate annually.
A high retention rate often correlates with effective support systems and successful integration of students into the academic environment.

Student Engagement in Outreach Activities
Measure the percentage of students participating in outreach activities designed to encourage access and retention, such as mentoring or community projects. Target: 50% of students annually.
Engagement in outreach activities reflects the School’s efforts to enhance access and participation and ensures students are actively involved in initiatives that support their development.

Student Satisfaction with Access Services
Conduct annual surveys to measure student satisfaction with access and participation services. Target: Achieve an average satisfaction score of 85% or higher.
Provides direct feedback from students on the effectiveness of access services, guiding improvements and ensuring that services meet student needs.