Shirebrook Academy scheme gives more students the chance to set their sights on university

The academy has increased the number of year 10 and 11 students being invited to join the initiative, which is run by the national charity The Access Project (TAP), from 40 last year to 50 this.

TAP works with 33 schools nationwide and was launched in 2008 to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds to overcome the barriers standing in the way of them accessing education at one of the UK’s top universities, including Russell Group universities, as well as Oxford and Cambridge.

Shirebrook is one of three organisations in the East Midlands that works with TAP, along with West Nottinghamshire College in Mansfield and Ashfield School.

Shirebrook’s students can only access the help until the age of 16, since it does not have a sixth form, but many of them continue to work with TAP at West Nottinghamshire College or benefit from the experience by getting the grades they need to attend sixth form elsewhere.

This year, Shirebrook’s two top-performing GCSE students, Angel Robinson and Ben Madeley, both worked with TAP and both have since gone to study for A-Levels at sixth form elsewhere.

Mark Cottingham, principal of Shirebrook Academy, said: “Our TAP provision was something I put in place in school three years ago and I’m delighted with the way in which it has helped our students over the years.

“It benefits their academic performance as well as raising their aspirations for their own lives and education and we have all seen first-hand how beneficial it has been through the wonderful achievements of students such as Ben and Angel this summer.”

Adam Joseph-Kerr is the university access officer for TAP in the East Midlands and works with the Shirebrook students in school for two days a week.

He said: “I was over the moon for all of our students at Shirebrook this year.

"They’d worked really hard and were excellent ambassadors for the project and there is no doubt that their success inspires others to want to take part in the project as well.”