Monthly Archives: February 2019

Parents / Carers who wish to have their say on Midlothian’s Budget Proposals should use the email address below.

The University of Glasgow is running a new free one-week Summer School this year, in partnership with the Sutton Trust. It will run from 7-12 July 2019 and is open to pupils who have just completed S5 and are continuing on to S6. It is a residential Summer School, with pupils living in University accommodation for the week. All meals will be provided and taken in University refectories and the Students’ Unions.

There are 100 places across four broad subject streams:

• Medical Sciences
• Engineering
• Social Sciences
• Arts and Humanities

Further details of the courses are below.

Pupils will meet existing undergraduate and postgraduate students and academic staff within their areas of interest, and attend workshops on: subject choice; applying to university; the UCAS system; student finance; student welfare and support, and academic and study skills. Evening activities will be organised such as: cinema evening; sporting and student club evenings; tours of Glasgow and the University campus.

Pupils will also have the opportunity to complete our online Academic Skills module. Successful completion of the Sutton Trust Summer School and Academic Skills Module could lead to an adjusted offer of entry being made if a pupil subsequently applies to the University of Glasgow, as part of our contextualised admissions system of adjusted offers of entry for applicants from widening participation backgrounds.

Applications are now open and will close at 5pm on Thursday 28 February. Pupils must apply via the Sutton Trust website at: summerschools.suttontrust.com .

Pupils will be asked if they meet eligibility criteria, which are a bit broader than the widening participation criteria we normally employ, opening this opportunity up to more pupils. The eligibility criteria are:

• Eligible for free school meals
• Attend a school with a below average Higher point score and/or low rate of progression to higher education
• Live in a neighbourhood with a low rate of progression to higher education and/or a high level of socio-economic deprivation
• First generation in family to attend university
• Have achieved at least five A or B passes at National 5

Pupils are not expected to meet all these criteria, but should indicate on their application, those they think are applicable to them.

Regardless of the above criteria, priority will be given to pupils who have care experience or are estranged and living without family support.

Pupils will also be asked to list a teacher as a reference – the teacher will be expected to verify the pupil meets some or all of the criteria listed.

More information on the individual courses and eligibility can be found both on the Sutton Trust website and the University of Glasgow Widening Participation webpages: https://www.gla.ac.uk/study/wideningparticipation/supportingaspirationinschool/suttontrustsummerschool/

A few more details regarding the content of the subject streams:

• Medical Sciences: Life Sciences; Medicine; Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine.
• Engineering: Aeronautical; Civil; Electronics & Electrical; Mechanical; Biomedical, and Product Design.
• Social Sciences: Politics; Business & Management; Accounting & Finance, and Economics.
• Arts & Humanities: English Language and Linguistics, Archaeology, History of Art, Beginners German and Music.

If you have any queries or would like any further information, please contact your Pupil Support Teacher.

Dalkeith High School launched its new social enterprise project, Food and Forest Co-op, today (Wednesday 30th January) to support its curriculum-led approach to Learning for Sustainability.

Supported by Forestry Commission Scotland, the Co-op aims to engage learners aged 14-18 currently undertaking a Sustainability course in practical outdoor learning and global citizenship to help prepare them for future work.

The School applied for funding through Forestry Commission Scotland’s Community Fund initiative, which aims to help groups facilitate greater use of woodlands, whether for education, community benefit, or to improve health and wellbeing.

As part of the Food and Forest Co-op, learners will put their greenwood working skills to practice in the School’s on campus Sustainability Hub, as well as manage the surrounding woodlands and community allotment. Trimmings from the woodlands will be used by the learners to create products such as garden lines, pegs and baskets to sell to the public and generate income for the Co-op.

Allyson Dobson, head teacher at Dalkeith High School, said: “The idea of the Food and Forest Co-op project emerged from the work we are doing at Dalkeith High School to establish progressive curriculum-led approaches to Learning for Sustainability. Introducing practical programmes will present learners with opportunities to experience the challenges of sustainability first-hand and teach them the basics of running a social enterprise, such as resource and funding allocation.”

Students partaking in the Food and Forest Co-op will be able to achieve various SQA qualifications through the project, including SCQF level 4, 5 and 6 across a range of forestry and horticulture accreditations.

Allyson added: “The woodland management element of the project will also benefit the local environment and give something back to the community.”

Hugh McNish, social programme manager at Forestry Commission Scotland, said: “The work of Dalkeith High School is exactly what the Community Fund embodies. It is there to support organisations looking to kick-start creative outdoor projects but are in need of some additional financial support. Through the fund, Forestry Commission Scotland aims to create opportunities for people to engage with Scotland’s green spaces to enhance education techniques, improve health and wellbeing, and generate wider community benefits.”

The School has partnered with Bowhill Estates to use the local woodland as a teaching resource, as well as BAM, which manages the woodland surrounding the campus, and Midlothian Council to operate the community allotment site.