The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills is responsible for widening participation in higher education, including the Aimhigher programme. The Aimhigher programme, in particular, brings together universities, colleges and schools in partnership to raise the attainment levels of young people and their aspirations towards higher education. Higher education institutions themselves will also often have well developed programmes of activities to raise the aspirations of pupils in schools and colleges which are built on strong local partnerships. These links are already well established and I will continue to work closely with my colleagues in the Department for Children, Schools and Families to ensure they are maintained and strengthened.
Improving the attainment and outcomes at all stages of education for people from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly low socio-economic groups, is a shared Government objective. As part of our strategy to widen participation my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills announced on 5 July a further package of improvements to the financial support available in England to students from hard working families on modest incomes; so that no one from such backgrounds is held back from realising their potential by concerns about the affordability of university study. This package includes an expansion of the popular and successful Student Associate Scheme involving high achieving HE students helping out as mentors and assistants in school classrooms where, as role models, they can inspire young people to achieve and progress into higher education. Our two Departments will continue to work together on this and a range of other programmes.