Discover Lancaster

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What is the Discover Programme?

The Discover Programme is a sustained widening participation journey designed to support young people from under-represented backgrounds to build confidence, broaden horizons, and see higher education as a realistic and achievable option.

Discover moves beyond one-off aspiration-raising activities. Instead, it provides a structured sequence of in-school and on-campus experiences across Years 8 and 9 that help students develop knowledge, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging in higher education spaces.

Why take part?

Research shows that inequalities in access to higher education are shaped early — through differences in knowledge, guidance, social capital, and confidence. The Discover Programme has been carefully designed to address these risks by:

  • Increasing understanding of higher education and post-16 and post-18 pathways
  • Broadening awareness of subjects and careers beyond the school curriculum
  • Developing confidence, self-efficacy, and learner identity
  • Breaking down perceived barriers to university
  • Strengthening students’ sense of belonging in higher education

Discover helps students recognise their own potential and understand how their current learning connects to future opportunities.

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