Cornwall Council Higher Education Scheme

Briefing note

Cornwall Higher Education Scheme February 2013 Update

Members Briefing

Last year we announced details of the Cornwall Higher Education (HE) scheme to support more students from Cornwall to progress into higher education and into employment.

The scheme was developed on the principle of funding a minimum of 6 cohorts* of students through the programme in order to achieve the intended outcomes of increasing participation in HE - closing the gap between Cornwall and the national average; in addition to providing the right higher level skills for the growth of our economy in key sectors.

The scheme is founded on levering in approximately £14m ESF investment from the post 2013 programme with a 25% match from the Council. Due to delays in announcements regarding the post 2013 European programme we are proposing a phased approach to the HE scheme. This will include delivery of the Trevithick Scholarships and a programme of undergraduate placements within targeted sectors of the economy from September 2014; with a view to rolling out the full programme from 2015 once European funding has been secured.

An update and more detail on the phased proposal will be provided to the Children Education and Families Scrutiny Committee in March.

We will be briefing our key stakeholders involved in the project including FE Colleges and School Sixth forms that will be providing information and advice to students about higher education and the support available to them.

We remain committed to the HE Scheme as a means of improving outcomes for our young people and the overall prosperity of Cornwall and its communities by achieving economic growth, dependent on higher level skills.

* Each cohort will be funded for a 3 year period, with a new cohort being funded each year from 2014(15) through to 2020.

Neil Burden

Cabinet Member for Children’s Services

Cornwall Council