...that ALL students, no matter their background, should have the opportunity to apply to the UK’s most elite universities, and should have the opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to compete for acceptance.
Our scholarship programme currently helps over 120 students.
Our mission is to double this each year for the next five years. To do this we need partners and support.
More Information at https://nextstep.foundation/
Disadvantaged and aspirational
Alongside fee-paying students the UPP each year has a cohort of Bonas MacFarlane scholars. Our scholarship programme provides 100% bursaries for sixth formers from disadvantaged backgrounds, who aspire to go to the most academic UK universities.4x less likely to go to university
Nationally sixth formers from disadvantaged backgrounds are 4x less likely to go to university than the most advantaged.1 in 1500
1 in 1500 is the chance of a child from a poor family getting to Oxford or Cambridge versus 1 in 20 for children from independent schools. The top 8 schools in the UK send as many pupils to Oxbridge as 2,900 others put together.How we select
Working with partner schools, we encourage disadvantaged students to apply for the scholarship programme. Candidates are interviewed, but not selected on narrow academic criteria. We look at GCSE results, plus commitment and academic interest demonstrated in the interview, application form and the school's feedback.
LATEST RESULTS
The UPP programme encourages all sixth formers to aim high. Being on the programme is transformative for our scholars.
- The majority of our scholarship students make Russell Group applications.
- 93% of our latest cohort (2018 admissions cycle) received Oxbridge / Russell Group offers.
- A high proportion make Oxbridge applications and in this most recent cohort 25% of our scholars who applied gained places.
Latest results
SUPPORT OUR WORK
This is the most cost-effective programme for disadvantaged students, and we need to raise money to expand.
- Partner organisations can fund places or expand the range of subjects we offer.
- Other kinds of support are also welcome - partners can provide internships or become certified to be mentors on the programme.
PARTNER YOUR SCHOOL
In year 1 (2017) we worked with 4 schools.
In year 3 (2019) we are working with 17.
Our partner schools