Disadvantaged school students who participate in the UK¡¯s national university outreach scheme are more likely to progress to higher education than their peers who take part in isolated initiatives, new research has found.

The Higher Education Access Tracker (Heat) Service??of students who had engaged in 11 or more hours of outreach activity, of which at least eight hours was ¡°high-intensity¡± content, such as campus visits, mentoring?or summer school, with those who engaged in only one single outreach activity with ¡°low-intensity¡± content, such as being given general information about higher education.

A report on its findings shows students in the intensive group are more 29 per cent more likely to progress to university than peers who receive minimal outreach, with the strongest impact seen among disadvantaged learners.?

Students eligible for free school meals engaging in intensive outreach are up to?48 per cent more likely to progress to higher education.?

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The report also looks at the impact of the Uni Connect programme, a government-funded initiative that aims to improve the participation of under-represented groups in higher education. A key part of the scheme is facilitating partnerships between universities and schools.?

The analysis finds that universities in Uni Connect partnerships delivered the most outreach activities, followed by non-high-tariff providers and then high-tariff providers.?

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Launched in 2017, the scheme has suffered a series of setbacks, including?a ?20 million budget cut?under the Conservative government in 2024-25.

Ongoing funding uncertainty and shifting priorities have also prevented the programme from reaching its full potential, according to a?report published by Public First last year.

However, the new research suggests the programme is having an impact, with Uni Connect delivering bigger gains for free school meal learners than universities acting alone, with the largest increase in higher education entry experienced by the cohort who participated in the scheme¡¯s outreach programmes.?

Heat¡¯s analysis also suggests students benefit from pre-16 engagement, despite most outreach activities focusing on students aged 16 and above.?

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Researchers predicted that this could begin to shift as the Office for Students increasingly expects higher education providers to ¡°take a greater role in raising pre-16 attainment¡±.

¡°We are confident that this shift will lead to increased outreach delivery to pre-16 learners in future cohorts by HE providers,¡± the report says.

Access to higher education and widening participation have been identified as key priorities for the current Labour government, with education minister Bridget Phillipson making it clear last year that funding requests, including rises in tuition fees, would be tied to action in this area.

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith welcomed the findings of the report, saying they show ¡°just how powerful targeted outreach can be in breaking down barriers to opportunity for young people¡±.

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¡°All universities should be looking at how they can do more to deliver this sort of outreach and widen access for disadvantaged students, because when it's done well, it can transform lives,¡± she continued.

¡°Our forthcoming Post-16 White Paper will soon set out how we¡¯ll boost support, through our Plan for Change, so that every young person can access the skills and opportunities that will set them up for success in life and work.¡±

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helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com