Lothians Equal Access Programme for Schools Annual Report Summary 2016-2017
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Lothians Equal Access Programme for Schools Annual Report Summary 2016-2017 1 LEAPS is a partnership of the following organisations: LEAPS is a successful and unique widening participation programme, funded by its higher education institution and local council partners to increase progression to higher education in South East Scotland. LEAPS is also supported by Skills Development Scotland and delivers the Scottish Funding Council’s Schools for Higher Education Programme (SHEP). 2 3 Contents Foreword 4 2016-2017: our year in numbers 4 LEAPS Eligibility and Schools 5 Aims and Objectives 6 Programme of Activity: S3 and S4 7 Programme of Activity: S5 and S6 8 LEAPS Summer School 10 Parents and UCAS Events 10 University Student Volunteers 11 Destinations of LEAPS-eligible Interviewed Students 12 Financial Report 14 Conclusion and Future Developments 15 2 3 Foreword 2016-17 was another eventful year for LEAPS, with More than 300 events took place across the 2016- three elements standing out as noteworthy. The pre- 2017 LEAPS programme, culminating in the 2017 application interview programme; the programme of LEAPS Summer School which saw over 80 per cent events delivered in schools and on campus; and the of its graduates enter higher education. You can find LEAPS Summer School performance. more detail on pages 7 to 10. In total, 2193 students were supported by the There is much for the partnership to celebrate in this LEAPS pre-application interview service and report, and we look forward to continuing our efforts LEAPS would like to thank our partners for their in 2017-2018. commitment to delivering this effort, the schools Ged Lerpiniere for helping us to organise the interviews and Director, LEAPS the universities for responding to the 2084 pre- application enquiries. It is a positive outcome to report that 76 per cent of this LEAPS cohort made the transition to higher education (based on known destinations). 2016-2017: our year in numbers 2193 final-year students 76% were supported of the 2016-2017 by the LEAPS cohort of LEAPS-eligible pre-application interviewed students 82% service, receiving entered higher of the 2017 individualised education Summer School More than higher education (based on known students entered advice and destinations) 2084 higher education guidance pre-application 300 enquiries LEAPS events were raised, 126 students took place to help inform graduated students’ from the 2017 UCAS course 4 Summer School 5 choices LEAPS Eligibility and Schools LEAPS was created with the aim of encouraging Inveralmond Community High School and advising students who are traditionally Leith Academy underrepresented in higher education. Liberton High School Lornshill Academy LEAPS works with 59 schools throughout South Musselburgh Grammar School East Scotland. For 2016-2017, these were divided Newbattle Community High School into Group 1 schools and Group 2 schools. The Tynecastle High School level of support which LEAPS provides to each Wester Hailes Education Centre school is typically determined by the school’s Whitburn Academy progression rates to higher education. The inclusion of schools in both groups is reviewed on LEAPS Group 2 Schools (2016-2017) a regular basis. Balerno Community High School Group 1 Schools Bathgate Academy Beeslack Community High School Schools in Group 1 typically have rates of Berwickshire High School progression to higher education that are some Boroughmuir High School way below the national average. For this reason, Broughton High School students in these schools are normally entitled to Broxburn Academy participate in all aspects of the LEAPS programme, Craigmount High School from S3 to S6. Currie Community High School Group 2 Schools Dalkeith High School Deans Community High School In addition to working with schools with a tradition Dunbar Grammar School of low progression to higher education, LEAPS Earlston High School also works with school students who come from Firrhill High School backgrounds that might suggest that they are less Galashiels Academy likely to proceed to university-level study. Schools Holy Rood RC High School in Group 2 typically have an established tradition of James Gillespie’s High School students progressing directly to higher education. James Young High School Students in these schools who match any of the Jedburgh Grammar School LEAPS eligibility criteria are entitled to individualised Kelso High School support during S5 and S6, as well as the LEAPS Knox Academy Summer School. For details of LEAPS eligibility Lasswade High School Centre criteria, please visit www.leapsonline.org Linlithgow Academy North Berwick High School To find out more about the LEAPS programme of Peebles High School activity delivered throughout 2016-2017, please see Penicuik High School pages 7 to 10. Portobello High School LEAPS Group 1 Schools (2016-2017) Preston Lodge High School Queensferry Community High School 82% Alloa Academy Ross High School of the 2017 Armadale Academy Royal High School Bannockburn High School Summer School Selkirk High School Castlebrae Community High School students entered St Augustine’s RC High School Craigroyston Community High School higher education St David’s RC High School Drummond Community High School St Kentigern’s Academy Eyemouth High School St Margaret’s RC Academy Forrester High School St Thomas of Aquin’s RC High School Gracemount High School Trinity Academy Grangemouth High School West Calder High School Hawick High School 4 5 Aims and Objectives Aims Objectives LEAPS is a unique partnership committed to • To provide young people, and their parents, widening access to higher education, supporting carers and guardians, with current, impartial the young people with whom we work. and realistic information, advice and guidance relating to higher education in universities and Our aims are to raise the expectation of attainment colleges. in academic study, to encourage the view that access to higher education is realistic and • To work in partnership with schools to identify achievable, and to support transitions into higher LEAPS-eligible students, and ensure they take education. part in LEAPS activities, helping to create a strong culture of progression to higher education within the schools in which we work. • To support secondary school teaching staff by providing impartial information, advice and guidance relating to higher education admissions and widening access policy. • To liaise with admissions and recruitment staff within higher education institutions to deliver LEAPS activities and to discuss opportunities ‘They helped with so much, from my portfolio and admissions on behalf of the young people to my personal statement and the application we work with. process. I really believe I would not have gotten so far today if it wasn’t for the help I • To enhance the expectation of success in received through LEAPS in my preparation for academic study and prepare students for higher university.’ education by promoting a positive attitude to learning via LEAPS activities. A former LEAPS-eligible pupil from Forrester High School • To provide LEAPS higher education institution (currently studying at ECA, University of partners with data relating to students who Edinburgh) enter their institutions to enable monitoring of progression. LEAPS delivers a range of activities, both in and out of school, from S3 through to S6. The group of schools entitled to take part in each LEAPS activity is indicated on the following pages using the key below: G1 = Group 1 Schools G2 = Group 2 Schools (See page 5 for more details.) 6 7 LEAPS 2016-2017 Programme of Activity: S3 and S4 For the 2016-2017 school year, eligible pupils in LEAPS Group 1 schools participated in our S3 and S4 programme of activity as outlined below. More details about these activities can be found on our website www.leapsonline.org What Next Workshop? G1 Campus Reporter G1 This interactive workshop This campus-based event gives students highlights the different paths the chance to explore university facilities The S3 activities are students can take through school, as they gather information to create designed to raise college and/or university, and a report about an aspect of university aspirations, providing potential future employment life. Student volunteers are key to its an early introduction opportunities. success, acting as guides and providing to higher education a direct insight into university student life. and student life. 20 704 events reached students 20 677 events reached students Courses, Qualifications High Flyers G1 (selected schools) and Careers Workshop G1 High Flyers takes place as students are This quiz-style workshop sees transitioning from S4 to S5, aiming to students explore topics such as inspire them to further consider post- qualifications needed for different school higher education options and The S4 events careers and which courses are taught what might be required to achieve them. continue to raise at university and college, whilst also aspirations and challenging stereotypes of higher It provides enhanced support to selected encourage students education in general. schools in which rates of progression to to consider the range higher education are some way below of opportunities the national average. at university and 28 854 This short residential event is delivered college. workshops reached students in conjunction with four of our partner institutions – Edinburgh Napier University, Heriot-Watt University, Queen Margaret University and the University of Edinburgh.