The Excellence Challenge was announced by the Secretary of State - David Blunkett - on 14 September 2000. It is designed to address the under-representation of students from disadvantaged backgrounds in post 16 and Higher Education, and will build on the success of the EiC programme in secondary schools.

The Excellence Challenge is a 3-year programme that will commit over £190 million to increase the numbers of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who apply for and enter higher education. A key purpose is to improve links between universities, colleges and schools

The co-ordinator for Excellence Challenge for the Hull Partnership was appointed in April 2002 and there is an emerging programme of activity at both secondary school and post-16 level. There is an expectation that the programme will be extended into selected primary schools from 2003.