A new scheme will see the University of East Anglia target help at pupils at local schools in difficulties.

Sewell Park College is the first school to sign up for the Schools Partnership Scheme, which aims to offer schools resources and benefits from the UEA's outreach team.

The school, which was put in special measures last November, will have a UEA graduate intern designated as a UEA champion, spending one day a week with it for three months, trying to raise the aspirations and supporting attainment.

UEA staff, including the UEA champion, visited the school to mark the occasion and met some pupils to tell them about the benefits it could offer them.

Ros Lunny, personalised learning manager at Sewell Park said: 'Sewell Park is really happy to be involved in this innovative scheme with the UEA. Anything we can do to help raise aspirations for our students can only benefit all involved.'

Other activities the scheme involves include attending parents' evening, campus visits for pupils with taster workshops, a family day on campus, and talks and workshops on higher education.

There will also be 15 funded places on UEA enrichment events, and at least two guaranteed place on outreach summer schools.

Claire Petley, head of recruitment and outreach at UEA, said: 'We're delighted to have Sewell Park formally on board with our new Schools Partnership Scheme, which we really believe will be of great benefit to the schools taking part.

'Many of the schools we have identified for the scheme have already expressed an interest in joining the partnership which is fantastic, and we are in the process of formally requesting they join.'

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