Our offer for schools and colleges 2026-27

There are several elements to the HeppSY offer to schools and colleges in 2026-27.

In this section you can find out more information about our provision for 2026-27.

Our offer is compliant with safeguarding in remote and online learning and our delivery team have been fully trained to deliver safely online.

In addition to our outreach delivery, HeppSY schools and colleges can also access:

  • Free, high quality resources for teachers and advisers to enable school/college-led delivery – accessed via HeppHUB
  • Signposting to our wider partnership provision, including activity provided by our university partners
  • CPD provision for teachers, advisers and other key influencers, facilitated through HeppSY, partner delivery and online resources

Students taking part in a workshop

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Key Stage 3

GOALS Logo

GOALS Breakfast Club

Growing Our Achievement, Learning and Skills

Watch the animation above then contact Jamie Taylor for more details:  Jamie.Taylor@shu.ac.uk

HE Can logo

HE Can

HE Can is a sustained multiple intervention programme for year 9 boys who meet the following criteria:

  • White British
  • Eligible for Free School Meals
  • Predicted to achieve grade 4+ in GCSE English and Maths

HE Can focuses on the potential benefits of HE, accessing support and increasing a sense of belonging.

Last year, our workshops covered problem solving, teamwork and confidence building. Learners went on exciting visits to Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Derby, where they learned about student life, societies, financial support and a range of careers. This project will give them the opportunity to reflect, think about their future pathways and goals, increase their confidence to access higher education and make the best use of the resources and opportunities available to them.

Contact Audie O’Donnell for more details: Audie.O’Donnell@shu.ac.uk

SHE Can logo

SHE Can

SHE Can is a sustained multiple intervention programme for year 9 girls who meet the following criteria:

  • Eligible for Free School Meals
  • Predicted to achieve grade 4+ in GCSE English and Maths
  • Please note: if you have taken part in SHE Can before, we have widened the cohort for this year to be all FSM girls

SHE Can explores the potential benefits of HE, belonging in HE and developing self-efficacy.

Our workshops last year encouraged learners to work as a team, overcome their challenges and think about their future careers. Learners enjoyed exploring societies and accommodation at Leeds Beckett University and learning about additional support at Sheffield Hallam University. This project will give them the opportunity to reflect, think about their future pathways and goals, increase their confidence to access higher education and make the best use of the resources and opportunities available to them.

Contact Pascha Lindley for more details: P.Lindley@shu.ac.uk

HEar Me! Logo

HEar Me!

This new project will be delivered in partnership with Talk The Talk.

This free, two-day programme gives year 9 learners the opportunity to build confidence, find their voice and develop the communication skills that will support them throughout school and beyond. Through engaging, interactive workshops, students will learn to structure verbal responses, express ideas with clarity and confidence in both individual and group settings, and understand what effective communication really looks like.

By the end of the programme, learners will feel more confident contributing to discussions, delivering presentations and communicating their ideas – skills that will benefit them now and in their future education and careers.

Contact Jo Slater for more details: Joanne.Slater@shu.ac.uk

Campus Connect logo

Campus Connect

Campus Connect is a tailored higher education experience for learners with disabilities in year 7 and above. Our data shows that learners who identified as having a disability, also often stated that they hadn’t accessed a campus tour. This opportunity provides accessible campus visits including a guided campus tour, an interactive workshop and a Q&A session about access to Higher Education with a current undergraduate with a disability.

This is fully funded by HeppSY, including transport and staff cover costs. Campus Connect aims to increase awareness of higher education pathways and support services while building confidence through showcasing inclusive environments and success stories.

You can find out more information by contacting Katy Raynor (K.Raynor@shu.ac.uk) or book now by completing this Microsoft Form. 

Key Stage 4

The Elephant Group Logo

The Elephant Group – Meta Method

Meta Method was created by The Elephant Group and is designed to support the academic progress of your learners by introducing them to the concept of metacognition. This is a free, HeppSY funded project.

The aim of the project is to teach your learners to recognise, understand and apply various metacognition techniques to boost their academic attainment. The project focuses on the HOW of studying and revision in the form of fully interactive workshops for up to 15 learners with engaging group work and time for independent reflection.

Year 10: Meta Study – 5 x 50min sessions with interactive booklets. Sessions focus on metacognitive study skills including goal setting, self-monitoring, self-reflection, and evidence-based revision strategies.

Year 11: Meta Revise – 4 x 50min sessions with interactive booklets. Sessions are revision-focused, applying metacognitive strategies to GCSE preparation, with an emphasis on practical techniques that learners can use independently.

To learn more about the Meta Method, click here

Contact Jamie Taylor to register your interest jamie.taylor@shu.ac.uk

LEVELS logo

LEVELS

LEVELS is a fully funded project to help year 10 EAL learners build their academic confidence and their awareness of opportunities in higher education. It is also a rare chance for EAL leaders in schools to network and spend time with local teachers in similar roles.

Watch the animation above then contact Jamie Taylor for more details: jamie.taylor@shu.ac.uk

Campus Connect logo

Campus Connect

Campus Connect is a tailored higher education experience for learners with disabilities in year 7 and above. Our data shows that learners who identified as having a disability, also often stated that they hadn’t accessed a campus tour. This opportunity provides accessible campus visits including a guided campus tour, an interactive workshop and a Q&A session about access to Higher Education with a current undergraduate with a disability.

This is fully funded by HeppSY, including transport and staff cover costs. Campus Connect aims to increase awareness of higher education pathways and support services while building confidence through showcasing inclusive environments and success stories.

You can find out more information by contacting Katy Raynor (K.Raynor@shu.ac.uk) or book now by completing this Microsoft Form. 

Key Stage 5 / Post-16

The Elephant Group Logo

The Elephant Group – Meta Method

Meta Method was created by The Elephant Group and is designed to support the academic progress of your learners by introducing them to the concept of metacognition. This is a free, HeppSY funded project.

The aim of the project is to teach your learners to recognise, understand and apply various metacognition techniques to boost their academic attainment. The project focuses on the HOW of studying and revision in the form of fully interactive workshops with engaging group work and time for independent reflection.

Year 12: 5 x 50min sessions – Session 1: Transition to further education- supporting learners to adjust to the demands of post-16 study. Sessions 2–4: Meta Study- developing metacognitive study skills appropriate to sixth form level. Session 5: Goal setting- structured reflection and target-setting for the year ahead.

Year 13: 1 x 2hr revision masterclass, supporting learners in applying metacognitive techniques to A-level revision and exam preparation.

To learn more about the Meta Method, click here

Contact Jamie Taylor to register your interest jamie.taylor@shu.ac.uk

Campus Connect logo

Campus Connect

Campus Connect is a tailored higher education experience for learners with disabilities in year 7 and above. Our data shows that learners who identified as having a disability, also often stated that they hadn’t accessed a campus tour. This opportunity provides accessible campus visits including a guided campus tour, an interactive workshop and a Q&A session about access to Higher Education with a current undergraduate with a disability.

This is fully funded by HeppSY, including transport and staff cover costs. Campus Connect aims to increase awareness of higher education pathways and support services while building confidence through showcasing inclusive environments and success stories.

This is fully funded by HeppSY, including transport and staff cover costs. Campus Connect aims to increase awareness of higher education pathways and support services while building confidence through showcasing inclusive environments and success stories.

You can find out more information by contacting Katy Raynor (K.Raynor@shu.ac.uk) or book now by completing this Microsoft Form. 

Transport fund

Students in University atrium

Schools and colleges affiliated with HeppSY are entitled to financial help with any school trips that have a link to higher education.

If your school or college is planning trips for the academic year 26/27, we can help with transport and cover costs if learners with widening participation characteristics are involved in the trip. The fund is limited and will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

Contact your Engagement Manager to apply for this fund.

Data requirements

HeppSY asks schools and colleges to provide learners’ data in line with our privacy notice.

The data we ask schools and colleges to share is collected under the lawful basis of Public Task. This lawful basis means that we are legally permitted to process personal data because the processing is in the public interest and is necessary for us to fulfil our reporting requirements to the Office for Students and the UK Government. We are a taxpayer-funded project for the public good. The data we collect is set out in our privacy notice. Most of the data is demographic data that helps us target our activity, and our privacy notice also lists attainment data and attendance data among the categories we may request. Schools and colleges that share data with HeppSY enable us to target our activity towards disadvantaged learners, and to evaluate our activity so that the activity remains beneficial to the learners with the greatest need.

A learner, parent or carer who does not want the learner’s data to be shared can contact the school or college, or the HeppSY Data and Evaluation team at heppsydata@shu.ac.uk. We ask schools and colleges to provide all other permitted data.

We ask our school and college partners to publish the linked privacy notice on the school or college website for a period of 7 working days. We ask our school and college partners to notify parents and carers that the privacy notice has been published, and to bring the privacy notice to the attention of the learners whose data will be shared. The 7 working day period gives learners, parents and carers time to read the privacy notice and decide whether to ask for the learner’s data to be withdrawn.

We will normally use Wonde to transfer the data securely from your centre once the privacy notice has been published for the 7 working day period. We will ask for the details of the staff member in your school or college who has administrator access to your MIS, so that we can send the approval request to that staff member. We will agree a secure alternative transfer method with any school or college that is unable to use Wonde. Schools and colleges taking part in specific projects will usually be asked for attainment data and attendance data at several points across the project. The projects in the Attainment Raising strand are the projects that most often require attainment data and attendance data.

Happy students have received their exam results in high school. They are cheering and celebrating.

The HeppSY Data Team is always available to provide support for any step of the data collection process. Please reach out to us at heppsydata@shu.ac.uk if you need any assistance.