Claire Cooke, South Central Rep
Access Projects Manager, Oxford Brookes University
Claire has worked within Widening Participation at Oxford Brookes for the last 16 years in a variety of roles. Claire recently wrote a new strategy to support care experienced students at Oxford Brookes, covering the full student journey from access through to graduation. As part of Claire's new role as Access Projects Manager, she is responsible for delivering the Access part of the new strategy. Working in partnership with the Oxfordshire Virtual School, Claire has developed a new 3 year sustained programme for children in care from Year 9-11. Students who complete this programme will get a guaranteed place on Brookes Engage, a sustained programme for Oxfordshire WP students in Year 12-13. The team provides targeted outreach to other underrepresented groups including mature students.
Claire was also responsible for launching a new Sanctuary Scholarship for asylum seekers and acted as named contact to the scholars.