Evaluation of Aimhigher: Excellence Challenge. Implementing Aimhigher Excellence Challenge: The experiences of ten partnerships
23 November 2005
Available to download from DfE
This report presents the findings from the in-depth studies of ten Aimhigher: Excellence Challenge partnerships. The partnerships were not selected to be representative of all partnerships nationally but were selected to include a range of different types of sizes of partnership and to reflect different local priorities and strategies based on information gleaned from annual reports and, in some cases, partnership interviews. While their individual experiences may not always reflect a wider experience, many common themes and issues emerged across the areas and their experience of implementing the programme in a range of circumstances provides some indication of effective approaches to working in partnership and delivering appropriate activities. The partnerships visited included those in the North East and North West of England (five partnerships), East and West Midlands (two partnerships) and South East and South West England and London (three partnerships). Three partnerships were EIC Phase 1 areas, four were in Phase 2 EIC areas and three were EAZs (now Excellence Clusters). Summaries of the ten areas are provided in Appendix A.