Step-Up Programme

Step-Up is a programme that has been designed and developed by the University of Ulster to provide pupils from secondary schools in Londonderry/Derry and Belfast with an opportunity to progress to Higher Education.

The programme helps pupils obtain the necessary A-Level qualifications to progress to university, while also providing them with direct experience of university teaching, research and assessment methods.

It is clear that Step-Up is having a significant positive impact on pupil's performance, motivation, self-esteem and application to study thereby making it more likely that they will remain in education and progress to university.

Step-Up has also been identified as an exemplar of best practice in the teaching of AVCE-Science by the Qualifications & Curriculum Authority (QCA).

To date, eight cohorts of students from the North West and two cohorts from Belfast have successfully completed the programme, with 99.8% obtaining the Applied GCE Science qualification. Almost 75% of students have obtained double ‘A’ or ‘B’ grades with the remainder achieving ‘C’ grades. 26% of students have achieved straight ‘A’ grades.

The success of the programme is even more exceptional when a comparison is made between predicted grades (based on previous GCSE performance) and Applied GCE Science grades obtained.

This analysis reveals an outstanding improvement in performance, as all pupils without exception achieved at least one grade higher than predicted, with over 72% achieving two grades higher than predicted. At initial interview 98% of pupils expressed no interest in progressing to Higher Education, however this changed dramatically as a result of their involvement in the programme.

97% of those who have participated in the programme have successfully progressed to UK universities, many to high demand programmes such as Biomedical Sciences, Computing, Engineering, Forensic Science, Law, Mathematics, Molecular Biosciences, Nursing, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Radiography and Sports Science.

Those not entering university progressed to Higher Education courses within the further education sector, or into employment.