Independent research

Independent review of Uni Connect attainment-raising activity

The OfS commissioned CFE Research to evaluate the Uni Connect programme’s impact of attainment-raising activity.

Attainment-raising activity aims to improve students’ academic achievement and their opportunities to access higher education. Uni Connect partnerships were encouraged to devise targeted interventions for underrepresented groups and respond to locally identified priorities as part of this OfS strategic priority.

Date:
22 July 2026

July 2026

This latest report builds on the evidence from the previous review published in 2025 which focused on activity delivered in 2023-24.

It includes further evidence submissions that specifically evaluated student attainment-raising activities delivered by Uni Connect partnerships during the academic year 2024-25 and provides comparisons with evidence from the previous year.

The expanded evidence bank is a resource for practitioners and evaluators working on attainment-raising initiatives in schools.


September 2025

This report reviews local evaluation evidence, focusing on activity delivered in 2023-24, in response to a formal call for evidence which ran from January to March 2025.

Published 24 September 2025
Last updated 22 July 2026
22 July 2026
Second review published, which focuses on activity delivered in 2024-25.

Describe your experience of using this website

Improve experience feedback
* *

Thank you for your feedback