Cumbrian pupils can now boost their chances of getting into university by gaining a pioneering accolade.
The University of Cumbria announced today that it will formally endorse the Cumbrian Award, meaning youngsters who gain it can now get a tariff reduction in UCAS entry points needed to secure a place on courses at the university.
Cumbrian Award was launched in 2021 with around 1,300 pupils, aged between nine and 14, taking part in 20 schools so far.
Pupils complete challenges in Adventure, Culture and Enterprise, such as undertaking a kayaking expedition, working with local artists and setting up and running a business which helps the community.
Young people achieving the Cumbrian Award will become eligible for a reduction of between eight and 16 UCAS points needed for entry to the University of Cumbria.
This is equivalent to a full grade point reduction in most cases. For example, a pupil achieving three A-levels at grades BBC could access a course which has an entry requirement of grades BBB. In order to benefit from the tariff reduction, Year 12 pupils will need to attend a Cumbrian Award Presentation Day at the university in the summer term.
Dr Ruth Harrison-Palmer, director of the Institute of Education, Arts and Society at the University of Cumbria, said: “We are fiercely proud of our people and our place and therefore we are delighted to endorse the Cumbrian Award.”
She said the award complemented the university’s mission to raise aspirations, attainment and participation.
The university said the award provides pupils with opportunities to develop leadership skills, take resilience-building challenges and experience triumph and achievement beyond the academic, setting them apart from other applicants and so justifying the offer of a reduced entry requirement.
Dr Harrison-Palmer said: “Applicants who have already completed the Cumbrian Award are prime candidates to become ‘the lifesavers, innovators, adventurers, creatives and educators of tomorrow’.”
Danny Gee, headteacher at West Cumbria Learning Centre, created the Cumbrian Award to develop confidence, independence, life skills and pride in Cumbria, as well as linking to the curriculum.
He said: “A sense of pride in place and belonging is central to what the Cumbrian Award aims to instil, and so we are delighted that fittingly the University of Cumbria will now be recognising the award.
“The tariff reduction will greatly benefit those who achieve the award, giving them access to more aspirational courses with higher entry requirements which were previously out of reach.”
Dale Hill is director of WELL (Western Excellence in Learning and Leadership), which runs the award.
He said: “A key ambition of WELL is to champion an inclusive approach to those curriculum experiences that can support every child and young person living in this wonderful place, to feel a strong sense of belonging, to have belief and know they are believed in, and to
become the person they and we want them to be – successful, happy, resilient, employable and knowing that positive contributions to community are achieved and recognised.
“Cumbrian Award develops the essential skills and attributes that our pupils need to thrive, and we are proud to include it as a key element of our WELL programme delivery.”
Cumbrian Award was designed especially for Cumbria. It launched in West Cumbria and is due to be extended across the whole county. It is designed to stand alongside pupils’ school test and exam results as a marker of their achievement.
WELL, which runs the award, is a pioneering education project which is working to raise attainment and combat educational disadvantage in West Cumbrian schools.
WELL is hosted by Cumberland Council and funded by Sellafield Ltd as part of its Social Impact Multiplied (SiX) programme, and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
Eirini Etoimou, head of corporate sustainability & supply chain development at Sellafield Ltd, said: “The ability to gain a tariff reduction through the Cumbrian Award ensures that even more young people have the opportunity to benefit from access to Higher Education, especially those who may have previously thought it couldn’t be an option for them”.
In order to receive the award, primary school pupils must complete six experiences or challenges over Years 5 and 6, two for each strand of the award – Adventure, Culture and Enterprise. Secondary pupils must complete 9 experiences over Years 7, 8 and 9.
