Parents/Carers Information
As a parent/carer, you want the best for the young people in your care. Supporting your young person on their journey to college or university can be complex as there are several steps and important decisions leading up to the application process. This section of the website answers a range of FAQs about FOCUS West’s role in helping young people make decisions about applying to HNC, HND at college and degree courses at university, to help them choose a post-school destination that is right for them.
Why does my child qualify for support?
FOCUS West is funded by the Scottish Funding Council to work with targeted pupils in secondary schools in the west of Scotland to widen access to higher education.
The criteria for inclusion in the programme can be found here. The regions that we work in can be found here.
Academically, pupils who take part should be capable of attaining 2+ qualifications at SCQF Level 6. This level would give a school leaver the best chance of being accepted onto a Higher National Certificate course at college or, with additional suitable SCQF Level 6 qualifications, a degree course at university.*
Our aim is to remove any barriers, as far as possible, that young people face in making decisions about their future. As par of this, we wish to increase understanding about the opportunities afforded by college and university and increase young people’s confidence in applying for an HE course. We want to create an equal opportunity for young people to realise their potential to transition into higher education, no matter what course they would like to do.
You can find out if your home postcode is within SIMD quintile 1 by using this postcode checker tool.
If your young person is interested in subjects studied at Glasgow School of Art, eligibility for inclusion on the FOCUS West programme is different. Please visit the programme websites for up to date information:
FOCUS West Portfolio Development Programme, The Glasgow School of Art, http://www.gsa.ac.uk/wp
What type of support does FOCUS West offer?
One of the strengths of FOCUS West is that it is a collaborative programme and delivered by four of the Higher Education institutions in the west of Scotland. You can click here to get information about the different elements of the programme. Please note that not all schools work with every element of the programme.
| Year | Programme | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| S4-S6 | University and HE Information, Advice, Guidance and Mentoring Support Development Workers provide in-person individual and tailored, impartial and specific guidance for pupils aiming for university or college at HNC/HND level. | FOCUS West Central Team, based at University of Strathclyde |
| S3 | Into FOCUS Pupils will be introduced to life as a university student with a visit to a university campus. | University of Strathclyde |
| S4 | FOCUS on 4 Pupils will attend the University of Strathclyde for a day with group activities designed to help improve study techniques and make pupils more aware of how university works. | University of Strathclyde |
| S4-6 | Portfolio Development Programme This programme offers advice/workshops on developing a portfolio for pupils interested in studying Art, Design or Architecture courses. | The Glasgow School of Art |
| S5-S6 | Routes for All Workshops are delivered in school to explore post-school Higher Education options at college with an opportunity to visit a college campus. | University of the West of Scotland |
| S5-S6 | Top-Up The Top-Up Programme has been designed to help pupils prepare for Higher Education and to make informed choices about the future. Pupils will participate in university style lectures and assignments. | University of Glasgow |
What are the benefits of being a partner school in FOCUS West?
Our work is on behalf of all universities and colleges and is therefore not connected to one specific institution or subject discipline. This allows us to be impartial in our work to raise awareness/aspiration to higher education and to best prepare young people for successful applications to their chosen higher education course.
Pupils that participate in FOCUS West will also benefit from:
- first-hand experience of the higher education learning environment
- specialist knowledge and workshops
- personalised help with course choice selection and application support
- the opportunity to develop transferable skills/gain an additional SCQF qualification
- experienced student mentors/role models
Additional Helpful Resources
- FOCUS Point – our online resource, with activities, advice and interactive tools related to choosing school subjects, thinking ahead to options after school, and applying to college and university.
- UCAS – for information on the university application process
- SAAS – for information on student funding
- SQA – for information on pupil examinations
[1] *SIMD stands for Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. SIMD is the official tool used to identify deprived areas in Scotland – FOCUS West predominately works with pupils who reside in an SIMD1 Postcode (also referred to as MD20) which refers to the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland. It is important to understand that it is a relative measure and ‘deprived’ has several meanings in this context. While the term deprived is usually associated with low income, SIMD also looks at a range of different things, like the resources and opportunities available in housing, health, education, employment, and transport.
*Please check the entry criteria for the college or university course your young person wishes to apply for.
