Letter campaign launched urging disadvantaged pupils to try uni

Almost 10,000 teenagers from some of the country’s most disadvantaged areas are set to receive letters from students at Kings College London encouraging them to consider university or an apprenticeship.

The initiative, backed by the Department for Education (DfE), targets pupils at schools and colleges with the lowest progression rates to higher education. 

It comes as government data found that on average, disadvantaged pupils are more than a third less likely to go to university compared to their peers.

The DfE said the postcode gap is “even greater”, with teenagers in Redbridge in London being almost three times more likely to progress to higher education than those growing up in Knowsley, Merseyside.  

The letters will be written by King’s College London students from similar backgrounds and set out how they overcame barriers to continue their studies. They will share personal stories and “challenge the perception that university is only for the privileged”.   

Almost 10,000 pupils at schools and colleges with the lowest progression rates to higher education have been identified through DfE data and will be targeted by the initiative. 

The project forms part of the government’s Plan for Change, which aims to widen access to higher education and apprenticeships. On average, disadvantaged pupils are more than a third less likely to go to university compared with their peers, according to the latest data from the government.

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Talent, aspiration and hard work – not postcode or background – should decide a young person’s future. Universities need to do more to make sure they’re reaching the most talented people in our country wherever they come from – youngsters who need a bit of encouragement to see that a degree isn’t only for a privileged few.

“I’m proud that we’ve been able to support this initiative – which comes ahead of further steps from government to break the link between young people’s background and success through our Post-16 and Skills White Paper.”

Kemi Adeyemi, a letter writer from Kings College London added: “It’s so important that young people know that their background doesn’t determine where they can study. It should be based purely on you, your grades and your choice alone, which I feel isn’t a message reiterated enough to pupils in state schools. 

“As a result of the letters I hope students feel empowered to apply for university and that they know they deserve to be there just like anyone else.”

Michael Sanders, professor of Public Policy at Kings College London concluded: “One of the biggest barriers is young people feeling like university ‘isn’t for people like me’. This project sees current students act as role models, which helps to create a bridge between people’s current lives, and what they can experience at university. 

“A previous similar study showed that receiving letters like these made students significantly more likely to go to university, with around a third more likely to attend a Russell Group. Our research shows that timely contact with a relatable role model can make a massive difference to young people’s lives and ability to seize the opportunities in front of them.”