St Mary’s University Signs 2015-16 Access Agreement

St Mary’s University, Twickenham has committed £2.17 million to help under represented students into higher education as part of its 2015/16 Access Agreement. The Access Agreement, which was published by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) on Wednesday 23^rd July 2014, aims to raise aspirations and attainment of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, support them to succeed in their studies and progress to employment or further education. Around 35 per cent of St Mary’s students come from under-represented socio-economic groups, 8 per cent from low-participation neighbourhoods and 7.5 per cent of its students are in receipt of the disabled students allowance. This funding demonstrates the University’s commitment to strengthening its widening participation activity, which includes a variety of schemes with pupils from local schools and colleges in low-participation areas. St Mary’s E-Mentoring scheme, which was launched in 2013, sees current University students mentor selected groups of school pupils throughout the academic year and has already received excellent feedback from participants. Other initiatives, such as the Learning Advisor Team, provide academic support and monitors the progress of under-represented groups once they begin studying at the University.