Coming from school

We want to raise aspirations and provide support for school pupils no matter what stage they are at or what their background is. We work with primary and secondary schools across the country both individually and through recognised schools programmes. 

Schools for Higher Education Programme

There are a number of schools programmes we currently work with. These programmes support regional collaboration between schools, colleges and universities to increase progression from schools to higher education. Each group works with schools to raise aspirations and awareness of the opportunities available to the students they work with. There are four regional groups:

• LEAPS – Lothian Equal Access Partnership for Schools
• Aspire North
• Lift Off
• Focus West

LEAPS is our local regional group, and we actively support them in their work. We have also signed up to the LEAPS pledge which means that we will try, wherever possible, to make a conditional offer of a place to LEAPS eligible students.

We are pleased to recognise the LEAPS Transitions Course, which is designed to give you the skills and experience you need to make a positive transition from school to university.

If we’re able to make you an offer, we’ll consider the Transitions Course as the equivalent of one higher. You must get at least 60% in your final grades. Taking this course doesn’t guarantee an offer, and it can’t take the place of any specific required subjects we ask for.

For example, if you were made an offer and asked to achieve ABBB at Higher (including Maths Higher at B), you could use the LEAPS Transitions Course to meet one of the grades required but you would still need to get a B in Higher Maths.

What’s a priority postcode?

This is a Scottish government initiative, often referred as a MD20 or MD40 postcode. To find out if you live in a priority postcode region, type your postcode into the postcode checker. SIMD area 1 means SIMD20.

You’re eligible for a minimum offer of entry to a degree programme if you live in a MD20 postcode, and an adjusted entry offer if you live in a MD40 postcode.

Low progression schools

Alongside our work with SHEP programmes we also work with local schools with low rates of progression to university or large numbers of widening access programmes. We maintain a list of low progression schools and we take this into consideration when looking at applications. Find out if your school is a low progression school.