The University of Edinburgh Pathways to the Professions Annual Report December 2017 1 www.ed.ac.uk/student -recruitment/widening-participation/pathways Contents Page 3: Section 1 – An Overview Page 6: Section 2 – Medicine Activity in 2017 Page 8: Section 3 – Veterinary Medicine Activity in 2017 Page 9: Section 4 – Law Medicine Activity in 2017 Page 10: Section 5 – Architecture Activity in 2017 Page 11: Section 6 – Activities for all Subjects in 2017 Page 12: Section 7 – Collaborative Activity Page 13: Section 8 – Admissions Page 15: Section 9 – Evaluation, Tracking and Development Page 16: Appendices Page 23: Support and Thanks 2 SECTION 1: An Overview Widening Participation at the University of Edinburgh Widening Participation (WP) to Higher Education (HE) is a strategic priority for the government, the HE sector and the University of Edinburgh. WP addresses the large discrepancies in the take-up of HE opportunities between different social groups. We therefore work to raise aspirations and educational attainment among people from under-represented groups to prepare students for HE; ensure success at University; improve employment prospects and open possibilities for postgraduate study; and encourage opportunities to return to learning in the future. The University of Edinburgh has been at the forefront of the initiation, design and implementation of WP projects since the early 1990s and is a leader and innovator in this area. WP has the enthusiastic and sustained support of the University’s Principal and the senior management team and is in the specific remit of one of the University’s Vice Principals. WP is now embedded as one of the key strands of the University’s Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan can be found here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/strategic_plan_2016.pdf The University's Strategy for WP aims to increase the proportion of undergraduate students from under-represented groups admitted to and successfully completing a programme of study at the University, consistent with the maintenance of high academic standards for admission and progression. In order to achieve this, we seek to broaden the base of the applicant pool and to identify the students with the best potential to succeed from an increasingly diverse pool of applicants. The University is a leading, internationally renowned research institution and has a consistently large pool of very well qualified applicants for all courses and in particular for professional courses. The University of Edinburgh is one of the most popular in the UK: the University typically receives over 45,000 applications for around 3,500 places each year. This context means that we have to work harder than many other universities to widen participation. Nevertheless, it is part of our mission to pursue excellence and improving access is part of this. Pathways to the Professions: Background Pathways to the Professions, based in the WP team of Student Recruitment and Admissions (SRA) in the University of Edinburgh, is a key element of the University’s WP strategy and encourages progression by under-represented school students into professional courses in Law, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and - until summer 2017 – Architecture*; and subsequently into the professions themselves. These are highly selective courses and entry to them is extremely competitive. The project was initiated and developed in 2001/02 with start-up funding from the Sutton Trust; and has since been embedded in, and funded by, the University, with contributions from the Brightside Trust and the Henry Drucker Memorial Fund. The project initially concentrated on Law and Medicine. Veterinary Medicine was added in 2005, and Architecture in 2008. Since its inception, the project has received the backing and support of the key professional bodies and they continue to play an important role in the delivery of many of its activities. Pathways has around 500-600 pupils registered on project at any one time, from S4 to S6 (ages 15- 18), with a total of over 4500 school students having engaged with the project since 2001. 3 Working Partnership with Reach: Scotland Since October 2010, Pathways has been working closely with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) funded national Reach: Scotland project for access to high demand professional courses. The University of Edinburgh strand of Reach (Reach: Edinburgh) works with schools of low progression to HE in Scottish Borders and Forth Valley. All of the Pathways activities outlined in this report are also offered to those who have registered for Reach: Edinburgh. Eligibility All students from the 46 state schools in Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian are eligible to register with Pathways, from S4 onwards (generally ages 15-18). The majority of students register via an online registration form; however, paper registration forms can be downloaded from the Pathways website. When students register with Pathways, their details are entered onto a database, and they are sent a welcome email with information on Pathways (for both themselves and to pass onto parents / guardians) and advice sheets. This information includes entry requirements for the courses across Scotland (the UK for Vet Medicine), career exploration guidelines and information about progressing into the career(s). Activities are promoted via email: major events are also promoted by letter to ensure as wide engagement as possible. The majority of activities are aimed at S5and S6 students - we do encourage registrations from S4 to ensure students receive important school course choice advice. Pathways activities provide insight into careers in Law, Medicine, Vet Medicine or Architecture*, as well as access to expert admissions guidance from the Pathways team. Owing to restrictions in capacity, priority to certain aspects of the programme (eg workshops with restricted numbers) is given to pupils whose parents or carers have not previously attended university (this is asked as a question on the registration form) or those who attend a school of below average progression to Higher Education (LEAPS** “Group 1” schools) or those who reside in an area of under-representation to Higher education, as defined by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). Theses pupils will be eligible for support from LEAPS - as well as Pathways - through their application process and these pupils are likely to fulfil one or more of the University of Edinburgh’s contextual data flags – see here for more details: https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/applying/selection/contextual-admissions *Architecture was removed as a Pathways strand in summer 2017. The University also hosts the Access to Creative Education in Scotland (ACES) project and it was deemed most suitable to move the Pathways Architecture activity to this project instead. Full information about ACES is available here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/student-recruitment/widening-participation/projects/aces/about-aces ** Lothians Equal Access Programme for Schools: see www.leapsonline.org for more details 4 Registrations Table 1 provides information on the number of students registered for each subject strand of Pathways as of early December 2017 (including those registered for more than one subject). Table 2 shows the number of students registered with more than one area. Note that Architecture was removed as a Pathways strand in summer 2017 – see above for details Pathways Non-LEAPS LEAPS Eligible Total Strand eligible Law 115 155 270 Medicine 157 98 255 Veterinary 47 33 80 Medicine Total 319 286 605 Table 1: Current Pathways strand registration data (note: includes pupils registered for more than one strand) Table 2 shows the numbers of students registered from each Local Authority as of early December 2017. Local Authority Non-LEAPS LEAPS Eligible Total Eligible City of Edinburgh 162 134 296 East Lothian 45 33 78 Midlothian 32 44 76 West Lothian 61 66 127 Total 300 277 577 Table 2: Number of students registered by Local Authority 5 SECTION 2: MEDICINE ACTIVITY 2017 Date Title of Activity Description Number of participants February 2017 “So You Want to be a Doctor?” This annual event is hosted by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) of Edinburgh and involves a number of short presentations from a range of doctors, followed by clinical skills workshops. Pupils heard from five 52 doctors working in a variety of specialised areas as well as the University of Edinburgh’s Medicine admissions manager. Nov 2016 to March 2017 “Let’s Talk About Health” Public Lecture Pathways pupils were given priority invitations to four public lectures on >100 Series various topics. These also included tours of the Queens Medical Research Institute. May 2017 “You Can Be A Doctor” – talk Talk aimed at younger school pupils (S2 and S3) and their families about 42 careers in Medicine and how to start progressing towards this route. February 2017 “So You Want to be a GP?” Information session at the Royal College of GPs for Pathways pupils to 19 find out more about careers as a GP. April 2017 Anatomy Workshop Delivered by current Edinburgh Medical Students, a “hands on” workshop 20 in the University’s anatomy labs December 2016 to May 2017 Higher / Advanced Higher Biology and Delivered by current Edinburgh University students, Pathways pupils were 12 Chemistry Drop-in Revision Sessions given help with any aspect of their Biology / Chemistry revision June 2017 Medic Insight Week long clinical work experience placement at a number of hospitals and health care settings. Open to any local school pupil with a Pathways 52 Medicine pupils given priority in selection. June / August 2017 UKCAT Workshop Two sessions looking at skills needed to perform well in the UKCAT for 114 potential Medicine applicants July 2017 Science Insights Week long lab based work experience placement delivered by colleagues at MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine and the Roslin 10 Institute. Open to any local school pupil with a number of places ring- fenced for Pathways Medicine and Veterinary Medicine pupils.