Introduction

University Access

At United Learning, we believe that every student should have the opportunity to follow their learning journey as far as they wish to.

Social mobility rates in the UK are the lowest in Europe, and among the lowest in the developed world. In the UK, 23% of students from state funded schools go on to attend Top Third HEIs, compared to 62% of students from independent schools (Dep PM’s Office, 2016). With schools from both sectors within our group, we want to ensure that gap is not representative of United Learning students.

With this in mind, we run a number of programmes via the Partnership Fund aimed at tackling the university access gap. These currently include our Scholars Club, and a multi-year programme in conjunction with the Accelerate and Access Foundation and Caterham School.

The Fellowship

The Fellowship

The University Fellowship is a year-long programme aimed at Year 12 students on track to achieve A*-B in their A-levels, and who show strong leadership potential..


We invite them to take part in an overnight university residential event in Year 12 where we explore issues around university, leadership, and the university access gap. We then ask the students to implement a project back in their own school in which they encourage younger students to consider university. Students from our Independent schools look to build links with local state schools to spread the message of university for all. The students come back together again in Year 13 to share their experiences and share their preparations for their own fast approaching university experience.

Between 2014 and 2017, over 60 high-achieving Year 12 and 13 students took part in university residentials

Students explored issues around leadership and the university access gap between state and independent schools

The students involved shared their experiences with younger students in their schools

The United Learning Fellowship

The United Learning Fellowship

Scholars Club

Scholars' Club

In 2016, we launched Scholars' Club – this is an after-school club, supported by Central Office but delivered by a teacher in school, which aims to nurture broad academic interests in students who show potential for academic Higher Education.


Studies show that introducing children to broader academic interests at a younger age can improve their likelihood of going into Higher Education.

We have ten schools interested in taking part this year, and it will be up to them which year groups to invite but we envisage this appealing to students all the way from Year 7 to Year 12. Each session will consist of a talk on a different academic area, delivered by an expert, either live in school, or via web link up with another school. At the end of the year, a select group of participating students will be offered a place on a university residential course.

United Access

United Access

In Summer 2017, we launched a multi-year university access programme with AAAF and Caterham School.


Year 9 students from six local United Learning academies attended residential Easter and summer school sessions at Caterham during which they will experience further academic study, work experience sessions, and university preparations sessions. The students will continue to attend these courses until the Summer between Year 12 and 13. The students will be mentored by undergraduates who will keep in touch online between the residentials, supporting them through their various academic stages.

United Learning comprises: United Learning Ltd (Registered in England No: 00018582. Charity No. 313999) UCST (Registered in England No: 2780748. Charity No. 1016538) and ULT (Registered in England No. 4439859. An Exempt Charity). Companies limited by guarantee.
Registered address: United Learning, Worldwide House, Thorpe Wood, Peterborough, PE3 6SB.

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