Inspiration in Education nomination – Step Up To HE
Inspiration in Education nomination – Step Up To HE
A University of Staffordshire project is supporting people from non-traditional backgrounds, or who may not have taken a traditional academic route, back into education.
Established in 2007, Step Up To Higher Education’s free 10-week programme is aimed at giving the knowledge, skills and confidence for people to progress onto degree-level work. It attracts a cross-section of people including those looking to retrain for a new career, pursue a passion or perhaps explore personal development.
Staff are passionate about the role University of Staffordshire plays in enabling widening participation and access, and also about the role education plays in positively developing people to succeed and flourish. There are currently four members in the Step Up Academic Team: Ashley Cotton, Kay Dawson, Daniel Tapley and Eleanor Johnston.
Applications for Step Up To Higher Education are contextually considered in order to secure attainable academic progression and future transition into degree level study. Experience is valued as much as formal qualifications, ensuring entrance requirements are flexible.
The 10-week programme is run throughout the year, with a maximum of 30 students in each cohort. The next programme starts in mid-September and students come from a variety of non-traditional backgrounds as Step Up To Higher Education collaborates with the likes of healthcare organisations, mental health charities and addiction and recovery services.
Students learn the crucial skills needed for university study including attending and preparing for lectures and seminars, note-taking, gathering research and using library resources. They also play a full part in university life, are assigned a personal tutor and the course is taught by subject-specialist academic staff, study skills tutors, library and IT specialists.
Once the programme is completed students gain a qualification and have the chance to go on to take a foundation or degree-level course.
Programme Manager Ashley Cotton said: “Our aim is to ensure that as many adult learners as possible reach their full potential and we provide opportunities and the support for them to do just that.
“Our work is so rewarding and is all about building connections and relationships. To do that we work collaboratively with our students. It’s not just about teaching and imparting knowledge, it’s about coaching, mentoring and offering holistic support.”
Step Up To Higher Education has been nominated in the Inspiration in Education category of the Your Heroes Awards 2025.