This presentation explores the influence of school and university partnerships in response to the widening participation and aspiration raising policy landscape in Australia and the United Kingdom (UK). In consideration of the highly politicised aim to increase the articulation of individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds to higher education, this presentation will share the insights of widening participation practitioners, school teachers and university and school executive staff, and their experiences of partnerships between universities and schools. Drawn from a broader PhD study, data will be shared and discussed that explores the notion of ownership and its impact on developing quality programs that aim to increase the social capital of underrepresented students in higher education. The presentation will promote sector wide discussion about the importance of partnerships in driving and sustaining the widening participation agenda and provide a forum to re-imagine the relational capacity between universities and schools.