Our eligibility criteria
LEAPS was created with the aim of providing encouragement and advice for students who are traditionally under-represented within higher education. To do this we target schools with a tradition of low progression to higher education, as well as school students who come from backgrounds that would suggest that they are less likely to proceed to university-level study.
We are in the process of working with colleagues in our partner organisations to review the LEAPS eligibility criteria. However, the information below outlines how we are currently working with students in S6 who match the following criteria.
We are in the process of working with colleagues in our partner organisations to review the LEAPS eligibility criteria. However, the information below outlines how we are currently working with students in S6 who match the following criteria.
Students attending priority schools (also called 'Group 1' schools)
We support any S6 student in a Group 1 school who has the potential to achieve a minimum of 3 Highers overs 2 sittings.
Students attending schools with proven tradition of higher education progression (also called 'Group 2' schools)
In Group 2 schools, we support to any S6 student who has the potential to achieve a minimum of 3 Highers overs 2 sittings and who matches one or more of the following eligibility criteria:
- student who is first generation in family to apply to higher education or whose parents do not already have a degree. This includes students who parents may have briefly participated in higher education but did not achieve a degree. Please note however that a student whose parent/guardian/carer has achieved any degree - irrespective of mode of study, type of institution, location of study - would not match be LEAPS eligible under this criteria.
- student from a low income background (for instance, where a student is entitled to EMA, free meals in school, or where the family is on income support)
- student who has spent time in care or being looked after
- student who is a young carer
We appreciate that it can prove difficult to determine whether an individual student is LEAPS eligible, therefore please contact us if you have any doubts or would welcome guidance.
