Report
27 July 2022
Summary
Summer schools are a widespread outreach intervention aimed at widening participation in higher education for disadvantaged and under-represented student groups. They are typically on-campus interventions that involve a range of activities to give students an experience of higher education, including a residential stay, information sessions, subject tasters and social activities.
Previous evidence indicates an association between summer school participation and positive attitudes and behaviours related to higher education. However, there is a lack of evidence demonstrating the causal impact of summer schools.
To address this gap, TASO conducted two randomised controlled trials of higher education summer schools, in collaboration with multiple universities and the Behavioural Insights Team. Applicants to each summer school were randomly allocated to a place at a summer school (the treatment group) or no place (the control group). By comparing outcomes across the groups, we can generate causal evidence on the impact of summer schools.
The first trial evaluated summer schools across eight universities held during summer 2021. These were delivered online due to COVID-19 restrictions. This report sets out the interim findings on the impact of these schools on widening participation. The report was updated in November 2023 to align with the 2023 interim report for the in-person summer schools evaluation.
The second trial evaluated face-to-face summer schools that took place across five universities in the summer of 2022.