Lothians Equal Access Programme for Schools Annual Report Summary 2017-2018 LEAPS is a partnership of the following organisations: Contents Foreword 4 2017-2018: our year in numbers 4 LEAPS Eligibility and Schools 5 Aims and Objectives 6 University Student Volunteers 7 Programme of Activity: S3 and S4 8 Programme of Activity: S5 9 Programme of Activity: S6 10 LEAPS Summer School 11 Parents’ and UCAS Events 11 Destinations of LEAPS-eligible Interviewed Students 12 Financial Report 14 Conclusion and Future Developments 15 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 Foreword LEAPS Eligibility and Schools This report outlines the LEAPS programme’s those from Scotland’s 20% most deprived LEAPS was created with the aim of encouraging Gracemount High School activity for the period 2017-2018. As you will communities (SIMD20) and set ambitious targets and advising students who are traditionally Grangemouth High School see, this was another busy year for the LEAPS to increase the number of students from these underrepresented in higher education. Hawick High School team. There are some significant headlines; 2056 areas participating in higher education. Though Inveralmond Community High School students were supported by the LEAPS pre- we believe we were supporting LEAPS-eligible LEAPS works with 59 schools throughout South Leith Academy application interview service, with 78% of those students from SIMD20 communities within our East Scotland. For 2017-2018, these were divided Liberton High School interviewed entering higher education. existing cohorts, to be sure of this we introduced into Group 1 schools and Group 2 schools. The Lornshill Academy living in an SIMD20 area as a LEAPS eligibility level of support which LEAPS provides to each Musselburgh Grammar School We are indebted to our partners for their continued criterion in its own right. school is typically determined by the school’s Newbattle Community High School support of these students. In particular, the progression rates to higher education. The Tynecastle High School guidance they offered via their tailored responses Finally, this period saw LEAPS complete a inclusion of schools in both groups is reviewed on Wester Hailes Education Centre to the 2305 pre-application enquiries that were longitudinal tracking project with our research Whitburn Academy raised for the cohort. For the students who are partner at Heriot-Watt University. The research a regular basis. able to go on and make informed higher education looked at two cohorts of students from enrolment LEAPS Group 2 Schools (2017-2018) applications as a result, this element of our work is through to completion of their degrees. It found Group 1 Schools invaluable. that LEAPS-eligible (widening access) students Balerno Community High School were found to perform equivalently when Schools in Group 1 typically have rates of Also of note for this period is our review of the Bathgate Academy compared to non-widening access students. At progression to higher education that are some LEAPS eligibility criteria. In their 2016 report Beeslack Community High School the time of writing, the authors are seeking to way below the national average. For this reason, A Blueprint for Fairness, the Commission on Berwickshire High School have the study published. Should you wish to students in these schools are normally entitled Widening Access identified the Scottish Index of Boroughmuir High School read the report, please contact LEAPS. Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) as a valid marker of to participate in all aspects of the LEAPS Broughton High School deprivation. In particular, they defined students We hope you enjoy reading about the LEAPS programme, from S3 to S6. Broxburn Academy Craigmount High School from the most deprived backgrounds as being programme’s activity in this report. Group 2 Schools Currie Community High School Ged Lerpiniere, Director, LEAPS Dalkeith High School In addition to working with schools with a tradition Deans Community High School of low progression to higher education, LEAPS Dunbar Grammar School Earlston High School also works with school students who come from Firrhill High School 2017-2018 Our Year in Numbers backgrounds that might suggest that they are Galashiels Academy less likely to proceed to university-level study. Holy Rood RC High School Schools in Group 2 typically have an established James Gillespie’s High School tradition of students progressing directly to higher James Young High School education. Students in these schools who match Jedburgh Grammar School 78% 2056 any of the LEAPS eligibility criteria are entitled to Kelso High School individualised support during S5 and S6, as well Knox Academy of the 2017-2018 cohort final-year students were 200+ Lasswade High School Centre of LEAPS-eligible supported by the LEAPS as the LEAPS Summer School. Linlithgow Academy More than 200 LEAPS interviewed students pre-application service, For details of LEAPS eligibility criteria, please visit events took place entered higher education receiving individualised North Berwick High School (based on known higher education advice www.leapsonline.org Peebles High School Penicuik High School destinations) and guidance To find out more about the LEAPS programme of Portobello High School activity delivered throughout 2017-2018, please Preston Lodge High School see pages 8 to 11. Queensferry Community High School Ross High School LEAPS Group 1 Schools (2017-2018) Royal High School 2305 Selkirk High School 85% Alloa Academy St Augustine’s RC High School pre-application enquiries Armadale Academy St David’s RC High School of the 2018 Summer were raised, to help Bannockburn High School St Kentigern’s Academy School students entered inform students’ UCAS Castlebrae Community High School St Margaret’s RC Academy higher education course choices Craigroyston Community High School St Thomas of Aquin’s RC High School Drummond Community High School Trinity Academy Eyemouth High School West Calder High School Forrester High School 4 5 Aims and Objectives University Student Volunteers Many of the events we deliver are designed In 2017-2018, the LEAPS student volunteer Aims Objectives around the input of current university students team comprised 97 students studying at both who choose to volunteer with LEAPS, including undergraduate and postgraduate level. They LEAPS is a unique partnership committed to • To provide young people, and their parents, school-based workshops, campus visits and supported 43 LEAPS events and made a total of widening access to higher education, supporting carers and guardians, with current, impartial conferences held at universities in and around 201 contributions to our 2017-2018 programme of the young people with whom we work. Our and realistic information, advice and guidance Edinburgh. activity and events. aims are to raise the expectation of attainment relating to higher education in universities and in academic study, to encourage the view that colleges. Our student volunteers are invaluable in access to higher education is realistic and • To work in partnership with schools to identify helping us to make the young people we work achievable, and to support transitions into higher LEAPS-eligible students, and ensure they with aware of the benefits and challenges of education. take part in LEAPS activities, helping to create higher education. They come from across a strong culture of progression to higher our partner institutions and study a range of “I am a volunteer at LEAPS and it’s education within the schools in which we work. academic disciplines, offering a range of student amazing to continue to be part of experiences to draw upon. LEAPS… to have the ability to help • To support secondary school teaching staff the students still at school, and to by providing impartial information, advice give them the student perspective. and guidance relating to higher education The idea of helping ease someone’s admissions and widening access policy. big transition is always very “I first became involved with LEAPS back • To liaise with admissions and recruitment staff exciting.” in S4 when I participated in their quiz within higher education institutions to deliver “It’s good to still be involved… I can workshop. It was really interesting to learn LEAPS activities and to discuss opportunities now give younger students tips that A former LEAPS Volunteer about what subjects you could study at and admissions on behalf of the young people I learnt from LEAPS four years ago! (Graduate of Edinburgh Napier university… I felt mostly unaware about we work with. The LEAPS team do a lot of great University) the variety of opportunities [at university], work and I’m proud to be associated • To enhance the expectation of success in but LEAPS made me feel reassured that with them.” my path was right for me and that was academic study and prepare students for what mattered the most.” higher education by promoting a positive A former LEAPS Volunteer attitude to learning via LEAPS activities. (Graduate of the University of A former LEAPS-eligible student from Stirling) Drummond Community High School • To provide LEAPS higher education institution (Graduate of Queen Margaret partners with data relating to students who University) enter their institutions to enable monitoring of progression. 6 7 LEAPS 2017-2018 Programme of Activity: S3 and S4 LEAPS 2017-2018 Programme of Activity: S5 LEAPS delivers a range of activities, both in and out of school, from S3 through to S6. The group of schools For the 2017-2018 school year, eligible pupils in LEAPS Group 1 and LEAPS Group 2 schools entitled to take part in each LEAPS activity is indicated on the following pages using the key below: participated in our S5 and S6 programme of activity as outlined on these pages.