We recognise that your role is crucial in supporting your learners to access Higher Education and we want to help.
You can use our website to book a wide range of events and activities for your learners, as well as to find out more about our programme and how we can support your school/college.
Our programme was developed in consultation with teachers, advisors and other stakeholders. It is designed to be collaborative, impartial and targeted. Please take a look at our Core Programmes to find out more about events and activities for your learners as well as CPD opportunities for staff.
Bookings can be made via our Events & Activities page.

Take a look at our activity programmes
Pre-16 Target Postcode Programme
Download 2020/21 Programme PDFPost-16 Target Postcode Programme
Download 2020/21 Programme PDFAll Schools Programme (Y7-13)
Download 2020/21 Programme PDFTargeted Learners Programme
Download 2020/21 Programme PDFGatsby Benchmarks
As careers aspirations play a significant role in decision making about higher education, we are working to embed careers related content into our activity (with a higher-level skills focus).
All of our activities support Gatsby Benchmark 7 ‘Encounters with further and higher education,’ but some activities such as our 1-2-1 HE guidance interviews and Industry Insight events map across multiple benchmarks.
We have highlighted which activities support which Gatsby Benchmarks in each of our Core Programmes.
More information for our postcode target schools can be found in our GM Higher and Gatsby guide
- 01 A stable careers programme
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02
Learning from career and labour market information
Activities relating to Gatsby Benchmark
- Industry Insights
- Online Mentoring (Insight Programme)
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03
Addressing the needs of each pupil
Activities relating to Gatsby Benchmark
- 1-2-1 HE guidance
- Projects
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04
Linking curriculum learning to careers
Activities relating to Gatsby Benchmark
- Curriculum Connections
- Industry Insights
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05
Encounters with employers and employees
Activities relating to Gatsby Benchmark
- Industry Insights
- Online Mentoring (Insight Programme)
- 06 Experiences of workplaces
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07
Encounters with further and higher education
Activities relating to Gatsby Benchmark
- Choice Days
- 'A day in the life of a student'
- Curriculum Connections
- On-site / In-school activities
- Go Further Mentoring
- Online Mentoring (Insight, Application and HE Explore programmes)
- Uni:4U Summer Schools
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08
Personal guidance
Activities relating to Gatsby Benchmark
- 1-2-1 HE guidances
- Online Mentoring (Insight, Application and HE Explore programmes)
Regional Progression Framework
Greater Manchester Higher has developed a Regional Progression Framework (RPF) to support the delivery of targeted postcode outreach activities. The idea being that individual activities build up over time into a coherent package of engagement for each learner.
The RPF supports:
- A planned, integrated and progressive approach to supporting learners towards higher education
- Schools and colleges to meet their Gatsby benchmarks
- Individual needs and aspirations of learners regardless of where they are based
More information can be found in our Regional Progression Framework
We have highlighted which activities contribute to which learner outcomes in our Core Programmes.
FAQs
Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, we have made arrangements for all of our activities to be delivered remotely until further notice. You can find out more about what events and activities we are offering here: gmhigher.ac.uk/events-and-activities/
Live delivery
- We have made arrangements to deliver activities to learners who are in a classroom where there is only one PC, as well arrangements for activities to be delivered where each learner has their own device as we recognise this may not be possible.
- Live delivery will take place either using a school-nominated platform, Microsoft Teams (for activity where learners are in the classroom with only one PC) or GoToWebinar (for activity where learners are at home/have access to a device each).
- Where we are using the school platform, you will take responsibility for safeguarding arrangements and our staff will comply with any policies and procedures you have.
- For activity taking place in a classroom the support of teacher/advisor is needed to facilitate activities, detailed briefing provided in advance and option to discuss over the phone.
- We can also deliver to multiple classrooms simultaneously.
- Please see out teacher guidance below:
GoToWebinar: https://gmhigher.glasscubes.com/share/s/idudai1go355neukqu7848208h
Microsoft Teams: https://gmhigher.glasscubes.com/share/s/nschf8bpo0qum3tk7b89o39ls0
Asynchronous delivery
- For some activity pre-recorded content will be available and/or lesson plans and resources for teacher/advisor led sessions and this is most likely to be the case for subject-based activity.
Safeguarding
Our online safeguarding guidance can be found here: https://gmhigher.glasscubes.com/share/s/idudai1go355neukqu7848208h
Our risk assessments can be found here:
School platform https://gmhigher.glasscubes.com/share/s/lnl1ohmsntmiaq65pfnnqibi5i
GoToWebinar https://gmhigher.glasscubes.com/share/s/3hu1qrkoo4tm8rintkmlsv9kct
Microsoft Teams https://gmhigher.glasscubes.com/share/s/6hibqcqid8moogp2mkr7uduv8k
Evaluation
- Monitoring and evaluation remains crucial in proving the impact of GMH activity and supports the case for further funding.
- There are three options, and this must be agreed upon in advance:
- Learners complete online evaluation directly using link provided (preferred)
- Teacher/advisor prints paper forms and scans back to GMH (preferred)
- Hub drops off and collects paper forms
- We are exploring a printing bursary to support financial and time implications for schools re. option 2, to be confirmed following our project steering group in late October.
If you have any questions please contact your hub manager or for non-target schools the outreach hub team via gmhigher@mmu.ac.uk
Target Postcode schools and colleges will be supported by a Hub Manager who will facilitate a structured needs analysis and planning process.
All schools/colleges will be supported by our GM Higher central team, who will help you access relevant GM Higher activities for your learners, as well as signposting to various events and activities at our partner institutions.
You can also use our Regional Progression Framework as a tool to help map activity across the learning outcomes for your learners.
If you require additional support with planning your engagement or have questions about any of our activity please contact gmhigher@mmu.ac.uk
Our Target Postcode programme is for year 9-13 learners only. If you are a target postcode school/college please review our core programme brochures for Pre-16 target postcode learners and Post-16 target postcode learners.
Our all schools programme includes activity for year 7-13 learners and available to all state schools in Greater Manchester. Please see the All Schools programme.
We also signpost all schools to other activities taking place at our partner institutions, which are targeted at a wide range of ages from Primary to Post-16.
We offer tailored activity for targeted learner groups (looked after children, care leavers, disabled learners, young carers) and their supporters, please see targeted learners programme.
Find the events you would like to book onto via our Events & Activities page.
You can use the search tool, or filter by selecting your school name.
For more information, please see: event booking guidance doc
All of our activities are fully-funded, therefore, there is no charge to schools, colleges or learners.
We need schools and colleges to support the monitoring and evaluation of our work so that we can evidence impact and comply with our funding requirements. The standard requirement is to provide learner registers prior to all activities and complete activity evaluation.
A requirement of our Office for Students funding is to track learner destinations so that long-term impact can be measured.
We ask learners to opt-in to the collection and processing of their personal data for tracking and evaluation purposes via our Destination Tracking forms. We require Destination Tracking Forms to be completed for all learners who take part in our activities.
All processes are fully GDPR compliant. Further information about our data collection & GDPR compliance can be found GMH Data Collection & GDPR Compliance document
Greater Manchester Higher aims to support the government’s social mobility goals by increasing the number of young people from underrepresented groups who go into higher education.
The Uni Connect progamme focuses on target wards, which are identified by areas where higher education participation is lower than might be expected given the GCSE results of the young people who live there.
Pre 16
For any school-organised activity (subject-specific, hub-funded, projects) 66% of learners need to be from a target postcode.
For the remaining 33%, learners from the following groups should be targeted:
o Looked after children/care leaver
o Disability (including long term health condition and additional needs)
o Young Carers
o Free School Meals
o First-generation HE
o Asylum seeker/refugee status
o Military family/service children
For activities where individual learners sign- up (summer schools), those who meet postcode criteria will be prioritised, followed by those who meet additional WP criteria.
For 1-2-1s we expect 100% of the learners to be from a target postcode due to the intensity of the intervention.
Post 16
For any school/college-organised activity (subject-specific, hub-funded, projects) 50% of learners need to be from either an NCOP or POLAR 4 Q1 or Q2 postcode.
For the remaining 50%, learners from the following groups should be targeted:
o Looked after children/care leaver
o Disability (including long term health condition and additional needs)
o Young Carers
o Estranged Students
o First-generation HE
o Asylum seeker/refugee status
o Military family/service children
For activities where individual learners sign- up (mentoring and summer schools), those who meet postcode criteria will be prioritised, followed by those who meet additional WP criteria.
For 1-2-1s we expect 100% of the learners to be from a target postcode or a POLAR 4 Q1 or Q2 postcode due to the intensity of the intervention.
You can find out more via our target postcode tools:
We are committed to offering free outreach activities to all state schools in Greater Manchester which include campus visits, in-school activities, parent talks and CPD for teachers and advisors.
For some activities, we may ask schools to select learners who are underrepresented in higher education such as those who are the first in their family to progress to higher education, are in receipt of free school meals, who have been in local authority care, who have a disability, learning difficulty or long-term health condition or have caring responsibilities.
Some schools will be proactively supported by GM Higher in accessing these activities based upon priority criteria.
To find out more information about what support your school can receive, contact gmhigher@mmu.ac.uk
We can provide CPD sessions for teachers and advisors to provide impartial information around key higher education themes.
We can deliver sessions ranging from 30 minutes to 2 hours either as a twilight session or as part of an INSET day.
This activity is available on request and can be tailored to your school/college requirements. Please email gmhigher@mmu.ac.uk for more information.
Resources for teachers
GM Higher documents
Pre 16 Postcode Tool - to help you to quickly identify target postcode learners within your learner cohort and collate activity registers for engagement
https://gmhigher.glasscubes.com/share/s/ra9ge3309obvg5fpivrtit48r1?0
Pre 16 Postcode Tool video - a quick 'step by step' guide on how to use the postcode tool
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deA63O228Ec
Post 16 Postcode Tool - to help you to quickly identify target postcode learners within your learner cohort and collate activity registers for engagement
https://gmhigher.glasscubes.com/share/s/33c39ksb402sa7jdu5vo13083p?2
Schools Partnership Agreement - a document outlining expectations and key policies
https://gmhigher.glasscubes.com/share/s/gn8b3008r7d61m188tiec5sq01
Event Booking Checklist
https://gmhigher.glasscubes.com/share/s/14u0i4oc4g0njdp7o6t87v1hou
GM Higher and Gatsby: How to make the most out of your engagement - a useful guide to how GM Higher can support schools/colleges with implementation of the Gatsby Benchmarks
https://gmhigher.ac.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/gatsby-guide-brochure-for-web.pdf
Regional Progression Framework - a useful tool to inform your planning of HE progression support and outreach activity for your learners
https://gmhigher.ac.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/RPF.pdf
UniTasterDays.com - Teacher's guide to Universities 2021
The key higher education facts for school and college staff.
https://gmhigher.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Teachers-Guide-2020-Greater-Manchester-Higher.pdf
Forum Talent Potential Case Studies
GM Higher commissioned Forum Talent Potential to deliver a CPD programme for Careers Leaders from a small number of schools in the academic year 2018-19. Case studies have been created for each project to help inspire more teachers to develop similar employer-linked curriculum projects
https://gmhigher.ac.uk/forum-talent-case-studies/
Classroom Resources and Lesson Activities
https://www.ucas.com/advisers/post-16-resources/classroom-resources
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/connect/teachers/teacher-events-resources/resources/
Information for advisors
https://www.ucas.com/advisers/guides-resources-and-training/guides-and-resources/adviser-newsletters
https://russellgroup.ac.uk/policy/publications/informed-choices/
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apprenticeships-resources-for-teachers-and-advisers
Additional support at uni - for estranged students, care leavers, young carers, disabled learners
https://gmhigher.ac.uk/targeted-learners
Student Finance
https://www.gov.uk/get-undergraduate-student-loan
http://www.ucas.com/sfe
See what's available for your school / college
Events & ActivitiesTeacher CPD that you may be interested in

Teacher/Advisor CPD
On Request
Event providers: Greater Manchester Higher

Teacher/Advisor CPD
On Request
Event providers: Greater Manchester Higher

Parent/Carer talks (Y10/11)
On Request
Event providers: Greater Manchester Higher