examine and identify any trends in attainment levels Statistical modelling found attainment levels to be in regional and remote schools; static in rural NSW government secondary and central schools between 2010 and 2016. Static attainment levels were corroborated by teachers during interviewing. Modelling did identify factors capable of impact attainment, these included: rurality (school location), distance to nearest university campus, school type (secondary or central), school population, year 12 cohort size, school ICSEA score and school EAS status. examine any differences between schools known to Interviews with teachers revealed a fondness for WP have had sustained engagement with widening initiatives accompanied by a belief that their school participation activities and others. would be worse off without a university WP presence. Most teachers spoke of a desire to maintain and expand WP presence in their schools and most suggested that their students enjoyed their interactions with WP programs. Statistical modelling showed no statistically significant difference in attainment levels between schools based on amount of contact with WP initiatives. Project Activities, Milestones and Key Performance Indicators Table 2: Project activities, milestones and KPIs TIME PLANNED ACTIVITIES PROJECT ACTIVITIES & IDENTIFIED KEY KEY PERFORMANCE FRAME & MILESTONES MILESTONES PERFORMANCE INDICATORS COMPLETED INDICATORS OUTCOME Nov 1.1 Project Officer Project Officer with 1.1 Appointment of a Completed 2016 – recruitment. PhD and research skills Project Officer with Project officer Dec in both qualitative and the knowledge, skills recruited and 2016 quantitative and experience to commenced initial methodologies successfully deliver work in late November recruited the project. 2016. 1.2 Submission of Ethics approval sought 1.2 Application for Completed application for ethics from both UNSW and ethics approval UNSW ethics approval to the subsequently the submitted in sufficient approved (HC16975) University of New appropriate area of time for approval to and NSW Department South Wales. NSW Department of be granted by of Education SERAP Education 2017. approved (2017070) Nov 2.1 Review of A comprehensive 2.1 Completion of Completed 2016 – international literature international literature review Literature review Dec on the successes of literature review informs project undertaken and 2016 widening participation conducted. processes and completed. Literature programs and how identifies any potential review was constantly they have been new data sources: updated through the project life and then
examine and identify any trends in attainment levels in regional and remote schools; Statistical modelling found attainment levels to be static in rural NSW government secondary and central schools between 2010 and 2016. Static attainment levels were corroborated by teachers during interviewing. Modelling did identify factors capable of impact attainment, these included: rurality (school location), distance to nearest university campus, school type (secondary or central), school population, year 12 cohort size, school ICSEA score and school EAS status. examine any differences between schools known to have had sustained engagement with widening participation activities and others. Interviews with teachers revealed a fondness for WP initiatives accompanied by a belief that their school would be worse off without a university WP presence. Most teachers spoke of a desire to maintain and expand WP presence in their schools and most suggested that their students enjoyed their interactions with WP programs. Statistical modelling showed no statistically significant difference in attainment levels between schools based on amount of contact with WP initiatives. Project Activities, Milestones and Key Performance Indicators Table 2: Project activities, milestones and KPIs TIME FRAME PLANNED ACTIVITIES & MILESTONES PROJECT ACTIVITIES & MILESTONES COMPLETED IDENTIFIED KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS OUTCOME Nov 2016 – Dec 2016 1.1 Project Officer recruitment. Project Officer with PhD and research skills in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies recruited 1.1 Appointment of a Project Officer with the knowledge, skills and experience to successfully deliver the project. Completed Project officer recruited and commenced initial work in late November 2016. 1.2 Submission of application for ethics approval to the University of New South Wales. Ethics approval sought from both UNSW and subsequently the appropriate area of NSW Department of Education 1.2 Application for ethics approval submitted in sufficient time for approval to be granted by 2017. Completed UNSW ethics approved (HC16975) and NSW Department of Education SERAP approved (2017070) Nov 2016 – Dec 2016 2.1 Review of international literature on the successes of widening participation programs and how they have been A comprehensive international literature review conducted. 2.1 Completion of literature review informs project processes and identifies any potential new data sources: Completed Literature review undertaken and completed. Literature review was constantly updated through the project life and then
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