Targeted Access Scheme

The Targeted Access Scheme (TAS) has been running for 10 years and is our flagship outreach project. TAS aims to encourage local pupils from Greater Manchester in families with little or no experience of higher education to consider higher education as a real possibility.

Young people are selected by their schools to enter the Scheme when they are in Year 9 and for the next three years follow a programme of activities that includes visits to the University to raise awareness of Higher Education and to enrich the school curriculum.

Current students from the University also visit the pupils at school, delivering sessions to help them understand more about university life and helping the pupils to set goals for themselves.

Pupils in years 10 and 11 have the opportunity to attend summer schools organised by the University together with Aimhigher/HEFCE and European Social Fund. All the summer schools are residential and pupils are set a variety of projects designed to excite them about learning in a university environment as well as providing practical advice about the many different choices they are facing.

The scheme also provides a series of events for the parents and carers of the pupils involved. Families are invited to attend University Open Days in addition to special events where they have the opportunity to talk to university staff and students as well as other parents.

By extending and broadening their horizons in a very practical way from the age of 13, they are given time to fully appreciate what is on offer and can then take the decision, in full knowledge of the facts, whether to continue their education post-16.