Questions & Answers
Background to our work
‘Who funds and manages LEAPS?’
LEAPS is a partnership of the organisations who fund our activities, comprising local councils (City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian) and higher education institutions (Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt, Napier and Queen Margaret Universities plus Edinburgh College of Art and Scottish Agricultural College. Careers Scotland is also a partner organisation. Each of the above organisations is represented on the LEAPS Management Group.
‘How do you know if your work has made a positive difference?’
In 2001-2002 a project commenced which tracked LEAPS students after they entered LEAPS partner universities and University of Stirling. The research set out to identify whether LEAPS students performed differently from traditional students at university. In total the study tracked 1455 students through the undergraduate careers and concluded after 4 years, concluding that:
‘ The evidence suggests that LEAPS students perform at least as well as more traditional students. 87% of LEAPS students successfully complete first year and, as expected, the greatest attrition is at the end of first year. The levels of success for LEAPS students are higher than the corresponding Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) figures for young students from low participation neighbourhoods (for Scotland) which ranged from 81% to 84% for the academic years in the study. LEAPS students fare better and LEAPS must take the credit. The extensive programme of events available, particularly to group 1 schools and the LEAPS summer school, equip the students for university both in making the right course choices and in the confidence to succeed.’
A full copy of the report ‘Tracking LEAPS students through their years in Higher Education’ by Paula McClements is available here.
‘Why do you promote higher education, rather than further and higher education?’
Evidence shows that perceived and actual barriers exist which discourage young people from less well off backgrounds from accessing higher education. Young people from poorer backgrounds are under represented within universities although they access colleges in greater numbers. Research has shown that pupils from families or communities with little or no direct experience of higher education may view university as being daunting or ‘not for the likes me’. LEAPS was established to challenge these misconceptions and to help young people overcome these barriers.
‘Does LEAPS support students once they enter university?’
Our role is to support school pupils. The activities we offer through the LEAPS Schools Programme and then Summer School will help to prepare students for the challenges they will meet once they enter higher education. Once a LEAPS student enters university he or she can call on the academic and pastoral support of their host institution, whose staff are much better placed and equipped to offer guidance than we are.
What we can do (and what we can’t)
‘Can LEAPS get me into university?’
No, but we can guide you and give offer you an extra opportunity to demonstrate
your potential. We can give you advice, encouragement and help you to select
courses that you have a realistic chance of receiving an offer for. We can
also ask university admissions officers to ‘set you an early’
target through a pre-application enquiry. After that it’s up to you
to show your academic ability in your Highers and possibly during Summer
School.
‘Are LEAPS students able to enter university with lower than normal entry grades?’
The only occasion when a university might set a LEAPS student entry conditions below what is advertised in the prospectus, is if they have been made aware that the applicant was unable to complete earlier qualifications due to adverse personal circumstances (and even there, there is no guarantee that this will be case). The only occasion when a LEAPS applicant might gain entry to university holding lower than expected qualifications is if they have attended Summer School and proved to the teaching staff that they are capable of degree-level study.
‘Can involvement in LEAPS harm my chances of receiving an offer from a university?’
There is no reason why being a LEAPS student might negatively affect your chances of receiving an offer. Before a LEAPS eligible applicant submits his or her UCAS application a note will be added (by the school) indicating that the candidate is LEAPS eligible – this makes admissions tutors aware that the applicant matches at least one of the LEAPS Eligibility Criteria. There is no evidence that an admissions tutor would look unfavourably upon a candidate for being LEAPS eligible, in fact the opposite tends to be the case. Admissions tutors often contact the LEAPS Office in order to identify if an applicant has experienced any circumstances that affected his or her ability to study effectively, with a view to making a fair offer based upon that individual’s circumstances.
‘I expect to receive an unconditional offer for my chosen course – is there any benefit for me to get involved in LEAPS during S6?’
Of the 1400 S6 students who LEAPS interviewed in autumn 2007, many were in a strong position and expected to receive unconditional offers or relatively straightforward conditional offers from universities. These students still ‘opted in’ as it meant they could attend a LEAPS Pre-Application Interview where they could talk through their application and discuss their personal statement with a member of our team. By attending a Pre-Application Interview these students were automatically entitled to attend the LEAPS Student Conference in December where they had to chance to talk with current undergraduates about the realities of student life. Furthermore, by choosing to get involved in LEAPS these students left the door open for a possible application to attend the LEAPS Summer School. Nearly all those who are entitled to participate in LEAPS activities choose to do so.
Who we work with
‘Why do you only work with state schools?’
The council members of the LEAPS partnership (East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian and West Lothian) fund us to support pupils attending any of the 46 secondary schools within their remit.
‘I attend a school outside Edinburgh and Lothians but match a number of the LEAPS criteria and plan to apply to universities that are in the LEAPS partnership – can I get involved in LEAPS activities?’
As LEAPS is funded by the four local councils (Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian) we devote our resources to working with pupils attending schools within their remit. Where space has allowed we have, in the past, invited small numbers of pupils from other schools to participate in individual events, with the approval and financial input of the appropriate local councils. This however only happens in exceptional circumstances and these pupils have been entitled to the full programme of support and the LEAPS Admissions Pledge has not necessarily applied.
‘Why do you offer a differing service to schools in the region?’
In order to allocate our resources as effectively as possible, we target our activities where we perceive there to be most need for intervention and where they’ll have greatest impact. Pupils attending Group 1 schools receive support from S2 to S6 on the basis that they are attending schools with a limited tradition of leavers entering higher education. These schools also support an above average number of pupils from poorer communities and the pupils will generally have no family experience of higher education. In Group 2 schools meanwhile there is an established tradition of pupils accessing higher education and fewer pupils match any of the LEAPS Eligibility Criteria so we don’t deliver early-level aspiration raising activities. Pupils in these schools who are LEAPS eligible are not forgotten – they are encouraged to opt in during S5 and S6.
‘Why don’t you work with primary schools?’
LEAPS was established with the aim of working with pupils attending secondary schools in Edinburgh and Lothians. We acknowledge the importance of working with pupils at an early level and, resource allowing, would like to work with primary schools in the future.
‘Why don’t you support students studying Highers at college?’
LEAPS is funded by the local councils to work with pupils attending their schools. We do not have funding or a mechanism to work with pupils who have opted out of school in favour of college.
‘Can you offer guidance to parents/guardians?’
Yes. Where appropriate, members of our team attend school-based parents’ evenings to explain our work. We also stage an annual Parents’ Information Evening (aimed at parents/guardians of those in S5) each November and we invite parents/guardians to attend the Summer School Course Choices Evening (S6) each April.
‘Does the LEAPS programme support students with disabilities?’
LEAPS will support any student who matches one or more of the LEAPS Eligibility Criteria. No LEAPS-eligible student will be excluded from any aspect of our programme on the basis of a disability. Where a student with a physical disability wishes to attend campus-based events (particularly Summer School) we will consult with the student/school in advance so that we can book necessary venues and liaise with our university colleagues working in the disabilities field. Having a disability is not one of the LEAPS Eligibility Criteria.
‘Activities such as Summer School would benefit adult returners and other mature students – do you support these groups?’
Our remit at LEAPS is work with pupils attending the 46 state secondary schools in Edinburgh and Lothians. Other organisations (such as Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP)) as well as university-specific initiatives work with mature students.
‘I plan to attend a university outside of Edinburgh – can LEAPS still offer me support?’
Yes. There is no obligation or pressure on a LEAPS student to attend one of the local higher education institutions. The aim of the LEAPS partnership is to encourage participation in higher education, irrespective of where that may be. Our upper school activities are geared towards helping pupils select the ‘right’ university to match their needs – this may well be a local university or it might be Stirling, Aberdeen, Dundee, Strathclyde, Manchester…
‘Why do you use ‘first generation in family to apply to higher education’ as an eligibility criteria?’
Evidence suggests that young people with no direct family experience of higher education are less likely to apply to university. The sole criteria for participation in higher education should be academic potential, not family background. We therefore work with young people (and their parents/guardians) with no experience of higher education to make them aware of the opportunities that university offers.
‘One of my parents is a teacher but trained at teacher training college rather than at university – does this mean I am ‘first generation’?’
Unless you match another of the other Eligibility Criteria you are not LEAPS eligible, on the basis that your parent trained in a higher education environment.
‘I experienced a parental break up when I was in early secondary. I don’t think it has had any impact on the grades I achieved in S4 or S5 – am I LEAPS eligible?’
If you feel that your education has been unaffected by your personal circumstances and you do not match any of the other LEAPS criteria then you should not opt into LEAPS. On the other hand if your parents split up quite a number of years ago but these circumstances cause ongoing disruption which affect your studies, you are entitled to receive support from LEAPS.
‘I missed lots of S5 due to illness, meaning I didn’t do as well as I had hoped in my exams. Am I LEAPS eligible?’
Illness is not one of the LEAPS eligibility criteria in its own right. You are not LEAPS eligible (unless you match another of our criteria) although you should encourage your guidance teacher (or the person writing your UCAS reference) to mention this in their statement so that university admissions tutors are aware of your circumstances when they receive your application.
‘I left school after S5 and am studying at college. Am I entitled to receive LEAPS support?’
LEAPS resources are targeted at eligible pupils attending partner schools. If you were involved in LEAPS activities before you left school we will be happy to answer questions you might have about university, but you are not automatically entitled to any other areas of support.
‘I am LEAPS eligible but haven’t heard about the Programme in school – how can I get involved?’
All 46 state secondary schools in Edinburgh and Lothians are committed to the LEAPS programme. If you contact the LEAPS Office we will be able to provide you with the name of the LEAPS Link Teacher in your school so that you can get involved in our activities.
LEAPS Summer School
‘I have an unconditional offer but would like to attend Summer School to get extra preparation – can I attend?’
Assuming you are LEAPS eligible we would encourage you to apply to Summer School. Although priority of places is given to students who may need to use the Assessment Reports to help them gain a place at university, if space allows we will happy for you to attend.
‘Do I have to be aiming to attend one of the universities in Edinburgh in order to attend Summer School?’
Summer School, like the wider LEAPS programme, is multi-exit. Providing you are holding an offer of a higher education place we don’t mind where you plan to study. The Summer School report will be of particular value if you plan to attend any of our partner institutions (ECA, Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt, Napier, Queen Margaret, SAC) but the wider experience will be valuable irrespective of which university you are aiming for. In a typical year, the most popular destinations for Summer School graduates will be universities in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and Stirling although other students will take up places in Glasgow, Paisley, St Andrews and others south of the border in England and Wales.
‘Does attendance at Summer School guarantee a place at university?’
No! Simply turning up to classes does not guarantee a university place. After 8 weeks of Summer School academic staff will assess your performance and write a report, indicating whether you are ready for the challenges of higher education. These reports can be forwarded to universities as extra evidence of your ability, to complement your qualifications from school. If you miss the entry conditions for a course and your Summer School performance is indifferent, it is unlikely that an admissions tutor will automatically honour your university place.
‘Can a Summer School course make up for not having studied a specific Higher subject?’
Summer School courses are intended to complement Highers, not replace them. Where a student has not studied a subject that is listed in the entry requirements for a particular degree course, it is highly unlikely that an admissions tutor would take Summer School attendance in its place. If a student has studied a specified Higher but just missed the necessary grade, and has done well in that Summer School course, an admissions tutor may view that as being sufficient evidence of ability.
‘How much does Summer School cost?’
Thanks to the generosity of our partners, individuals and companies who
support LEAPS, all Summer School costs including teaching, field trips,
travel and study materials are covered by LEAPS. Students are expected to
pay for lunch and snacks, as well as for selected (optional) social events.
‘I am planning to take a holiday after I have finished my Higher exams in S6 – will I still be able to attend Summer School?’
Summer School is designed as a full-time, 8-week programme. Priority over Summer School places is therefore given to those students who can commit to attending the full course. Where space allows, a student who has a short holiday during June or July may be offered a Summer School place under the proviso that he or she undertakes the extra work (that will be missed during absence). Each student’s attendance record (as a percentage of all classes) is recorded on the assessment report that can be forwarded to universities.
