ABSTRACT Much outreach work now focuses on the most educationally disadvantaged localities in England, identified by the government-funded National Collaborative Outreach Programme as target wards. This study explores the underlying reasons why these districts return rates of young higher education participation that are not only comparatively low but lower than expected once prior attainment is taken into account. It does so by gathering the perspectives of careers practitioners, teaching professionals and learners from a sample of target wards in the county of Essex in southeast England. Underpinning the insights of these individuals, the study draws on quantitative evidence that highlights some key differences between these districts and other localities across Essex. Attention then turns to identifying current school-based practices and outreach activities considered by those surveyed to have had a positive impact on the progression outcomes of the young people from these neighbourhoods who do go on to university, as well as new initiatives that have the potential to do the same for others. Whilst adopting a case-study approach, the paper concludes by suggesting that the findings should be of wider interest, including for those seeking to address geographical differentials in higher education participation in other parts of the country.

中文翻译：

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了解教育劣势领域：检查艾塞克斯郡的外展目标病房

摘要现在，许多外展工作都集中在英格兰教育程度最弱的地区，这是由政府资助的国家合作外展计划确定的目标病房。这项研究探讨了以下原因：一旦考虑了这些地区的学前教育成绩，这些地区的年轻高等教育参与回报率不仅相对较低而且低于预期。它通过从英格兰东南部埃塞克斯郡的目标病房样本中收集职业从业者，教学专业人员和学习者的观点来做到这一点。作为这些人的见解的基础，该研究利用了定量的证据，这些证据突出了这些地区与埃塞克斯地区其他地区之间的一些关键差异。然后，注意力将转向确定被调查者认为当前的校本实践和外展活动对这些邻里上大学的年轻人的进步成果产生了积极影响，以及有潜力的新举措为他人做同样的事情。在采用案例研究方法的同时，论文的结论是建议研究结果应具有更广泛的意义，包括那些寻求解决该国其他地区高等教育参与地域差异的人们。