Schools Based Research

Research in GWS

Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Project

A study of aspirations, enablers and barriers to participation in higher education for primary and secondary students was undertaken by the UWS Centre of Educational Research with the Blacktown Learning Community. 

The project team conducted participatory action research with teachers from four schools (2 primary school, 2 high schools) within the Blacktown Learning Community in order to find out what the career and further study aspirations of children of different ages are in the community, and to find out what are the enablers and barriers to their participation in higher education.

The participatory action research process with teachers will develop the capacity for teachers to continue the process of encouraging children to aspire to enter higher education. The focus group discussion with parents will raise their awareness and establish potential mechanisms to support families in their aspirations for their children. The project team will prepare a draft report to be shared with participants for feedback and the final report will be available to the HEPP Project sponsors to be disseminated by the web and in academic presentations and publications. 

Low SES children, their families and teachers in primary and secondary schools in the Blacktown Learning Community were the primary target.