Written question asked by Chris Williamson (Labour) on Tuesday, 12 July 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 14 July 2011. It was answered by Lord Willetts (Conservative) on Monday, 18 July 2011 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Aimhigher Programme

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he considered the merits of restructuring the Aimhigher programme.

Answer: Universities and schools have learned a lot from the Aimhigher programme about ““what works”” in raising the aspirations of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Much of this knowledge is now embedded in the sector. However, while there has been some progress in improving access to higher education, overall this has masked a position where institutions and courses that offer the greatest lifetime benefits to their graduates have failed to reflect the wider social mix of our country.We needed a new and different approach that builds on existing best practice, while developing it further. We are establishing a new framework, with increased responsibility on institutions to widen participation; and greater Government investment in improving attainment and access for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Last week the Office for Fair Access announced their decisions on Institutions' Access Agreements for 2012/13. The agreements contain institutions' plans for investment in activities to widen access through programmes such as summer schools, scholarships and fee waivers, estimated to reach more than £600 million annually by 2015.

Secondary information