Keele University OFFA Access Agreement 2013/14

In July 2013, The Office for Fair Access (OFFA) announced its approval of Keele University’s Access Agreement for 2014/15.  This document follows on from the agreement already in place for 2013/14 and has been developed based upon Keele’s current performance in terms of widening participation and also the recent changes to University fees.   The agreements outline Keele’s approach to widening access and the provision of financial support for home and EU undergraduate students from October 2013.  


The measures supported by OFFA mean we can continue to invest in providing the best possible experience for our students.
The Access Agreements are divided into three main areas of activity:


•    Student Financial Support
•    Outreach activity to support widening participation and fair access objectives
•    Student retention and success activity to support learners once they join Keele


Keele University has charged a fee level of £9,000 per annum from 2012/13, for all undergraduate courses, to ensure it can sustain its high quality of education and the exceptional student experience it delivers.  Keele’s absolute commitment to supporting student access on the basis of merit, regardless of financial status, means a significant financial support package will be available to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Please find below information on the changes introduced as part of the approved Access Agreements.

Student Financial Support

The measures that Keele University will introduce include:


•    A £3,000 National Scholarship (a fee waiver of £2,000 plus a £1,000 cash bursary) for 220 students. The National Scholarship is based on criteria including (but not restricted to); eligibility for Free School Meals, receipt of a ChildCare Grant, being a Looked After Child, completion of Keele's A2K or A2P scheme.


•    A £1,000 Keele University cash bursary for all other students with a household income of £25,000 or less.
 Together these schemes will support up to one-third of Keele University’s 2013 entrants.


More information about the specific financial support available for those studying at Keele from September 2013 will be published on the University web pages: http://www.keele.ac.uk/studentfunding/

Outreach (Widening Participation and Access)

Keele Outreach offering for 2013/14 has been developed to ensure that we provide effective and efficient activity to those with the greatest need.  All pre-16 activity is targeted at schools with a high widening participation rating.  This is based on a number of criteria including progression rates to post-16 education, percentages of students eligible for free school meals and indices of multiple deprivation for the catchment area of the school.  


Activities available for schools (pre-16)  is focused on HE awareness raising and the promotion of academic subjects.  They will include;


•    A new primary collaboration with Harper Adams, Staffordshire University and Wolverhampton University.  This project will work intensively with a small number of high priority primary schools.

•    A residential, Unifest, for Year 10 and 11 pupils.

•    A series of campus events exploring specific themes.

•    eMentoring – mentoring of school pupils by current undergraduate students.

The offer for post-16 schools/colleges looks in greater detail at the skills required for success when studying at University and supporting learners in making decisions and applying.  The offer includes;

•    Academic taster sessions with bolt-on, student led, university information sessions

•    Progression 2 Law and Progression 2 Medicine.

•    A study skills residential, Uniskills, for Year 12 pupils.

•    eMentoring – mentoring of school pupils by current undergraduate students.

Further information can be found on the Keele Outreach webpages – www.keele.ac.uk/outreach

Student Retention and Success

Induction and support through transition –

For 2014/15 an inclusive orientation programme will be developed and delivered which includes and extends the current welcome and transition events.  Included in this will be a number of new initiatives such as a social support programme for Asperger’s students.
There will be an integrated programme of IAG delivered as part of a pre-arrival support week for all students but with specific sessions targeted at underrepresented students.  

Peer Mentoring –

The Peer Mentoring work at Keele has been developing rapidly and has been seen to have significant impact. The project is expanding for 2013/14 and will involve every academic school.  It is anticipated that the opportunity to mentor or be mentored will be a possibility for every Keele student for the 2014/15 academic year.

Support for Care Leavers and Estranged Students–

Work is being undertaken to attain the Frank Buttle Quality Mark for supporting care leavers in Higher Education.

Keele Distinctive Curriculum -

Commitment as part of the University’s 2012/13 and 13/14 Access Agreements has led to the creation of a Curriculum Support and Development team.  The team are responsible for the organisation and delivery of a comprehensive programme of learner enhancement activity to ensure that students achieve their full potential.

Student Support and Wellbeing –

The University will be introducing a Mental Health strategy for the 2013/14 academic year, which will be accompanied by a range of resources for both students and the supporters of students.

Further information on the work of the Student Support and Development Services can be found here - http://www.keele.ac.uk/ssds/

OFFA links

OFFA Access Agreements can be found for all institutions on the OFFA webpages (http://www.offa.org.uk/access-agreements/).

To see Keele's Access Agreements please follow the links below -