We are based in the west of Scotland, working with pupils in 60 secondary schools.
Our work is funded by the Scottish Funding Council as part of a national programme known as the Schools for Higher Education Programme. FOCUS West works with educational partners, particularly teachers, to support pupils with the potential to succeed to have more choices and opportunities in their higher studies and careers.
Higher Education (HE) is defined as tertiary education that leads to a university degree or an HNC/HND award from college. We aim to support the wide-ranging ambitions of our pupil group to access HE by providing information, academic skill support and support with applications as they move through secondary school. We are based in the west of Scotland, currently working with pupils in 60 secondary schools.
The criterion for inclusion in the programme can be found here.
Our programme includes awareness raising, individual Information Advice and Guidance on routes and pathways into Higher Education, Campus Visits, Study Skills support, college and university preparation and specialist support for pupils with an interest in art and design or Creative subject areas. For more information on our programmes, click here.
All pupils in our programme have access to our award nominated FOCUS Point website and resource, that gives pupils support with careers and progression from P6 to S6 and beyond.
SUCCESS STORIES
“I think that the main thing I learned is how many transferable skills I can take from other experiences and use them within my chosen art form. I would definitely recommend it to anyone thinking of applying to study the arts”
FOCUS West has been pivotal for me in terms of looking at higher education; had I not been involved in the program I doubt I would have considered universities outside of Scotland, never mind the best universities in the world.