Resources

Doing more with less and how to target the right students with the right support.

March is a transition month of sorts, one where we start to see glimmers of brighter days punctuating the gloomy, darker days. A sign that change is on the horizon as we welcome in Spring 🌼

A slightly longer introduction from me this month, but I hope it resonates, so please stick with me. 

Back in December, I talked about the challenges and pressures facing the sector. Since then, those pressures haven’t eased. If anything, endurance has become the new normal and the difficulty lying in navigating these tough times while still driving impact. In times like these, I remind myself of the old adage: “This too shall pass.” A simple truth that all things, both good and bad, are temporary. 

But while we wait for change, we also need to continue with our work. This month, I want to focus on equipping the sector with the tools to do more, despite having less. Over the past few months, we have repeatedly heard the same challenges: 

– Being asked to deliver the same impact on students with reduced budgets 

– Working with a limited evidence-base and not truly knowing which interventions will work for which student groups – this is especially true when working with a new student group or having unsuccessfully tried a number of interventions that are yet to resonate with a specific group 

– Recruitment and engagement challenges for certain subgroups of students 

– Making tough decisions about where to focus provision while scaling back in other areas 

Not knowing which intervention will work for which student group is one of the biggest challenges in access and participation. But a deeper understanding of student groups changes that. When you have the right data, you remove the guesswork.

Next month, we are launching a free workshop series that breaks down the four FE student segments – discovered through our national research study – and shows how real data, drawn from over 35,000 students, can help you:

• Target interventions more effectively
• Increase engagement across key student groups
• Improve student outcomes through evidence-based insights

Sign up now to secure your place.

You can also access a free Executive Summary from the national research study.

TWO Special Episodes of The Student Outcomes Podcast

We are excited to share two powerful new episodes featuring Sean and Lourdes from The Traveller Movement. They provide firsthand insights into the challenges many young Travellers still face in education and their inspiring journeys to overcome them.

🎧 Episode 4 – Sean: From Facing Discrimination to Shaping Policy

Sean reflects on his experiences with discrimination at school, the isolation of university life, and his determination to drive policy change for inclusion.

🎧 Episode 5 – Lourdes: Walking Two Paths – An Irish Traveller’s Perspective on Education

Lourdes discusses breaking stereotypes, balancing cultural expectations, and proving that education is an option for Traveller women.

Listen or watch both on YouTube and Spotify now! 👇

Language@Leeds Public Showcase – Spring 2025

On the Tuesday 1st April, I will be featuring on a panel discussion that will explore cross-sector collaboration! This event will highlight cutting-edge research on inclusivity, accessibility, and reducing inequities through education.

Find out more and register here!

Widening Participation Conference at the University of Surrey

On Wednesday 11 June, I will be leading a workshop at the University of Surrey’s Widening Participation Conference, a collaborative event dedicated to supporting young people from underrepresented backgrounds in accessing higher education.

My session, Supporting Travellers into Higher Education, will explore the barriers GRTSB students face when considering university and, crucially, how we can genuinely support them to succeed. The session will also provide practical takeaways for educators and policymakers.

Find out more and register here!

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Until next time.