Governance and network
One of the main aims and key benefits of Go Higher West Yorkshire (GHWY) is connecting staff from across its 13 member institutions.
Member institutions automatically join the GHWY Board and two formal ancillary groups, the Access and Participation Strategy Group and the Go Higher Skills Group. They can also choose to become involved in additional networks. By working as a collective we often reach a better outcome than we might have had individually.
Our work can take part in groups and networks, which may comprise staff:
- In similar or related roles
- With similar or related interests
- Responding to similar or related issues, or working towards similar or related goals
Group members often represent a range of functions across the student lifecycle.
Staff have reported numerous benefits to this approach. These include:
- Sharing learning and expertise, as well as effort and resource
- The opportunity to understand how different institutions approach their activities
- Having access to a range of viewpoints to challenge their own or institutional assumptions
- A common understanding of West Yorkshire’s particular needs and how to respond to them
Our members
Board
| Member Institution | Board Member | Role |
| Bradford College | Alina Khan | Vice Principal EDI & Student Experience |
| University of Bradford | Claire Pryke | Associate Director (Recruitment Operations) |
| Calderdale College | Karl Veltman | |
| University of Huddersfield | Jane Owen-Lynch – Chair | Pro Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) |
| Kirklees College | Karin Sykes | HE Manager |
| Leeds Conservatoire | Joe Wilson – TBC | Principal |
| University of Leeds | Louise Banahene | Head of Educational Engagement |
| Leeds Arts University | Dave Russell | Pro-Vice-Chancellor Student Experience & Resources |
| Leeds Beckett University | David Ashton | Pro Vice Chancellor for University Recruitment and Global Partnerships |
| Leeds College of Building | Nikki Davis | Principal and CEO |
| Leeds City College | Sarah Marquez | Dean of Higher Education |
| Leeds Trinity University | Claire Newhouse | Head of Apprenticeships and Skills |
| Wakefield College | Clare Allcock | Executive Director Student Experience and Support |
Access & Participation Strategy Group members
| Institution | Name | Job title |
| Bradford College | Vacant | |
| University of Bradford | Kirsty Lunn | Associate Director (Recruitment Operations) |
| Calderdale College | Joe Lockwood | Curriculum Leader – Higher Education |
| University of Huddersfield | Julie Pink | Head of Schools and Colleges Liaison Service |
| Kirklees College | Karin Sykes | Head of HE |
| Leeds Conservatoire | James Rew – Chair 2023-24 | Access and Participation Manager |
| University of Leeds | Steve Gleadall | Student Education Service Manager |
| Leeds Arts University | Martell Baines | Progression Manager |
| Leeds Beckett University | Sarah Thomas – Deputy Chair 2023-24 | Access and Widening Participation Manager |
| Leeds College of Building | Vacant | |
| Leeds City College | Laura Macgregor | Widening Participation and Outreach Manager |
| Leeds Trinity University | Sophia Milnes | Student Recruitment and Outreach Manager |
| Wakefield College | Jayne Kaye | HE Participation Officer |
Go Higher Skills Group
| Institution | Member | Job title |
| Bradford College | James Bairstow | HE Recruitment & Conversion Lead |
| University of Bradford | Joanne Beaumont | Interim Associate Director Student Services: Careers, Employability and Engagement |
| Calderdale College | Katie Walker | Head of Higher Education |
| University of Huddersfield | Claire Aydogan | Head of Careers and Employability |
| Kirklees College | Karin Sykes | HE Manager |
| Leeds Conservatoire | Director of Events and Enterprise | |
| University of Leeds | Mohammed Hussain | Lifelong Learning Centre |
| Leeds Arts University | Andrew Jones | Head of Careers, Employability and Enterprise |
| Leeds Beckett University | Mark Stow | |
| Leeds College of Building | Chris Tunningley | Head of University Centre |
| Leeds City College | Jo Tyssen | Head of WP, Outreach & Projects |
| Leeds Trinity University | Ian Maude | Head of Business Development |
| Wakefield College | David White | Head of Employer Engagement |
Our networks
Member institutions automatically join the GHWY Board and two formal ancillary groups, the Access and Participation Strategy Group and the Go Higher Skills Group. They can also choose to become involved in Decolonising the Curriculum or four additional networks. By working as a collective we often reach a better outcome than we might have had individually.
The four networks arose from a larger strand of work and co-exist alongside each other. They investigate activities and approaches that we hope to use to develop an overarching framework for working with students across a broad range of under-represented groups. In addition to sharing and transferring good practice, each network is working towards one or more outputs.
Network looking at the experiences of students from Black, Asian and Minoritised Ethnicities
his Network convenes individuals from a range of roles who have an interest in ensuring equitable experiences for students from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnicities. It meets once a term and the co-Chairs are Shames Maskeen (Leeds Trinity University) and Tahera Mayat (GHWY).
During 2022/23 and 2023/24 it is working on a systematic review looking at HE access for Black Asian and Minoritised Ethnic Students. This will contribute to the knowledge base of access to HE for this group to inform an evidence-based approach. It will also bring together academic and non-academic colleagues, helping them to incorporate research into their practice.
Network looking at the experiences of care-experienced and estranged students
This Network convenes individuals from a range of roles, including those who support young people who have experience of the care system or are estranged from their families. It meets once a term and the co-Chairs are Laura da Costa (Leeds Arts University) and Helen Sykes (GHWY).
During 2022/23 it has started work towards adopting a common definition of ‘care experienced’ across GHWY’s member institutions, and delivering two collaborative events aimed at helping young people make informed choices about their next steps. This work complements the work we already do to support individuals from these groups, particularly through our Care to Go Higher programme.
Network looking at the experiences of disabled students
This Network convenes individuals from a range of roles involved in supporting disabled learners to get access to and/or succeed in HE. It meets once a term and the co-Chairs are Jo Mitchell (University of Huddersfield) and Simon Morris (University of Leeds).
In 2021/22 it developed a Disabled Learners’ Transition pack, which addressed a common issue seen by colleagues in Further Education (FE) with their students trying to move into HE. This has been promoted both locally and nationally, including via blog posts (such as, on the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) website), presentations (for example, at the Open University biennial international conference), and running stalls at relevant local events (such as, Leeds Next Choices event).
The pack will be reviewed annually to ensure it remains accurate and responds to feedback. There will also be ongoing evaluation and dissemination to widen its impact.
Network looking at the experiences of males on free school meals
This Network convenes individuals from a range of roles who are interested in supporting more males previously in receipt of free school meals to consider HE options. It meets once a term and the co-Chairs are Jonathan Holland (Leeds Beckett University) and James Rew (Leeds Conservatoire).
It has identified a struggle to recruit males into Student Host/Student Ambassador roles, to support others to consider HE. To better understand the challenge, it has looked at data around recruitment to these roles, and the wording in job advertisements. The members of the Network were asked to review their job descriptions in line with the recommendations. It is hoped this work will shine a light on the start of the application process and the need to encourage male role models.
To support our focus on local collaboration, our networks are open to staff across GHWY’s 13 member institutions. If you work at one of these institutions and are interested in finding out who your institutional representative is, or in joining any of the Networks, please contact Tahera Mayat, GHWY’s Collaborative Outreach Officer at T.Mayat@leeds.ac.uk.
