ACCESS RGU Partner Schools Newsletter - May 2014

Access RGU

ACCESS RGU Partner Schools Newsletter May 2014

Study Skills and Access Unit

access@rgu.ac.uk / 01224 263096

ACCESS RGU

Partner School Newsletter May 2014

Dear Colleagues, Welcome to the ACCESS RGU Partner Schools newsletter. It has certainly been a very busy time since our first edition!

The Team are particularly delighted to report on the progress of the ACCESS TO programme and the achievements of the S5 and S6 participants. Coordinated by Rhona McComiskie, the programme has grown in depth and breadth over the past academic year, attracting consistently positive feedback from pupils and RGU tutors alike.

We are also pleased to announce that RGU has achieved the Buttle UK Quality Mark for its commitment to support young people with a background in care to access Higher Education.

Colleagues are encouraged to contact the Team’s dedicated Care Leaver Adviser, Charley Buchan, on 01224 263092 to find out more. We still have work to do in this area and welcome input from schools to inform our approach.

With your continued support, RGU continues to develop and deliver a range of engagement activities for senior phase pupils, both in school and on campus. The team are in the process of contacting partner schools to review engagement activities during 2013/14 and to discuss how we can continue to work together to benefit pupils in 2014/15. As part of this process, we hope you found the recently distributed ACCESS RGU Reference Guide for Teachers helpful. The guide showcases the many initiatives we can deliver in schools and on campus and further copies are available on request.

The ACCESS RGU team wish you a great summer break when it comes! In the interim, please do not hesitate to contact the team if you have any queries or would like to discuss further opportunities for school engagement with the ACCESS RGU programme,

Best Wishes,

Elaine Sinclair Senior Project Coordinator Study Skills and Access Unit access@rgu.ac.uk 01224 263096

Partner School Newsletter

ACCESS RGU

May 2014

What’s been happening...

Since the publication of our first newsletter we have been busy with the ongoing delivery of our ‘Access To’ programmes. With courses now running in four subject areas; Art & Architecture, Communication & Media, Allied Health Professions and Management, we are delighted to have welcomed 75 senior pupils on campus.

Attending weekly after school sessions the pupils have benefited from amazing opportunities to develop their skills and understanding in their chosen subject area by working on real projects with a dedicated and enthusiastic team of academic staff and current students.

‘Access To’ supports pupils to progress to further and higher education. S6 pupils have also been supported through their university application and interview stages. Many have chosen to apply to study undergraduate courses with us and have been successful in securing offers.

There is no doubt these pupils will be one step ahead; already familiar with the RGU environment, course lecturers, teaching methods and what is expected of first year students.

During the 2013/14 programme ‘Access To’ supported 75 pupils of which 44 were in their 6th year. 26 pupils applied to study with RGU and to date 21 have received offers. The success of this pilot year provides a great platform from which to develop and further improve our ‘Access To’ provision in 2014/15.

Access to Allied Health Professions participants celebrate their achievements with tutors

“I am so thankful that I got to take part in this experience and had the chance to meet so many lovely people as well as learn skills which will help prepare me for a future university course. It has also showed me that university isn’t as scary of a place as I thought it would be and I can’t wait to come back and study!” (‘Access To’ participant)

Partner School Newsletter

ACCESS RGU

May 2014

Access to Allied Health Professions The latest addition to our suite of ‘Access To’ programmes, Access to Allied Health Professions, launched on February 22nd.

S5 and S6 pupils from St Machar, Hazlehead and Kincorth

Academies were actively involved every Wednesday after school for eight weeks. During the course pupils followed the patient’s journey from injury to diagnosis and rehabilitation and gained an understanding of how different allied health professionals help the patients in their journey to recovery.

The course consisted of hands on activities delivered in RGU’s facilities. In the hospital ward pupils learned CPR and how to move and handle a patient and had an opportunity to operate an x-ray machine. In the home setting the pupils got firsthand experience of using different equipment including walking aids and specialised household equipment to assist a patient to live independently.

The feedback from the pupils was extremely positive and they all felt that they had benefited from their experience on the course. The participants learned about the skills and values required of a health professional and they also became more confident in meeting new people and studying at university level.

“My experience at RGU has been fantastic and I feel like in the future I will be able to work efficiently in a group and see new challenges with a more positive mindset.

I have proved to myself I am able to accomplish tasks to a high standard when I have self belief.” (‘Access To’ participant)

For many S5 pupils the course helped to clarify what they would like to do in the future and for the S6 pupils it confirmed they had made the right decision to apply to a degree course in Health Sciences at RGU. S6 pupils also felt that the course helped them in the transition from school to university.

At the end of the course parents and teachers were invited to an end of course celebration to acknowledge the achievements of the pupils completing the course. The pupils were very proud to receive their Certificates of Participation and we were also able to celebrate the

success of Ashleigh Grant, Gregor Robertson and Beth Sandison all of whom have received offers to study at RGU.

Partner School Newsletter

ACCESS RGU

May 2014

Access to Management Twenty one pupils from our partner schools

positively on gaining a better understanding

recently tested their business skills by

of business as well as building their

participating in a 5 week ‘Access to

confidence and having fun.

Management’ RGU’s

programme

Aberdeen

partnership

with

Business

delivered

at

School

in

Simprentis,

learning

provider to the international oil & gas industry.

Competing

in

school

teams,

pupils

completed the ‘Oilsim’ business simulation.

The learning model provided a dynamic simulation of the energy industry and teams were tasked with making real business decisions. Teams chose where to drill, how much capital to invest in their oilfields and which other companies to partner with whilst considering their company’s social and corporate responsibility.

Over the 5 weeks pupils not only developed their business acumen but also improved their core communication, teamwork and

Pupils were competing to win two prizes during the programme. To mark their achievements pupils and teachers were invited to a prize giving event. The prize for Highest Company Value was awarded to St Machar Academy, which consisted of team members Maja Omorczyk, Maja Kowalczyk, Morven Hutcheon and Dawid Guzik.

The prize for Credibility Points was awarded to a mixed team with two members from St Machar Academy; Marta Wachala and Dawid Czechowski and two members from Kincorth Academy; Kathryn Symmonds and Kirsty Wright.

Individual Recognition awards were also given to Kathryn Symmonds, from Kincorth Academy, Wanesa Kilian, of Torry Academy and Bethany Reid from Northfield Academy.

problem solving skills. Pupils commented

Torry Academy

St. Machar Academy

St. Machar & Kincorth Academy

ACCESS RGU

Partner School Newsletter May 2014

‘Access To’ Promotion 14/15 Building on the success of the ‘Access To’ programme in 2013/14, RGU is delighted to announce the provision for academic year 2014/15. ‘Access To’ programmes will run in the following subject areas: Art & Architecture Communication & Media Allied Health Professions Management Life Sciences (New!)

What’s New for 2014/15?

New for the autumn term 2014 will be the launch of Access to Life Sciences, an exciting new programme which will give pupils a practical insight into Biomedical and Forensic Sciences.

Sessions in Pharmacy and Nutrition & Dietetics will be added to the existing Allied Health Profession course.

Access to Communication & Media will see the introduction of a new PR and Journalism strand.

Plans are also underway for an S6 Enhancement element to the programmes offering S6 pupils further support with their university applications and interviews and providing an opportunity to shadow current students.

A guide for pupils is currently in the pipeline for distribution in June. The guide will outline all the programme areas and give details of the times and dates of the sessions. All programmes will run over a number of weeks on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday after school from 4.30-6.30 pm. As with all our ‘Access To’ provision, the costs of all materials, refreshments and transport will be met by RGU.

To promote the ‘Access To’ opportunities I would very much like to speak to new S5&6 pupils in June to ensure every pupil who could benefit from our provision has the opportunity to do so. Pupils can register for the courses online at any time at http://www.rgu.ac.uk/access-rgu.

To arrange talks for your pupils please contact me at r.mccomiskie@rgu.ac.uk or on 263095.

ACCESS RGU

Partner School Newsletter May 2014

RGU recognised for commitment to students with a care background RGU has been awarded the Buttle UK Quality Mark for its work in developing a programme of support to widen access to higher education for young people with a care background.

Created by Buttle UK , the largest grant-giving organisation in the country directly supporting children and families living in poverty, the charity awards the Quality Mark to colleges and universities which commit to support young people who have been in care, to access further and higher education and successfully complete their studies and achieve their ambitions.

To receive its Quality Mark RGU had to demonstrate that it has a robust strategy in place to ensure that students from a care background can access a package of support – financial, pastoral and educational.

“I am looking forward to working with and supporting our applicants who have come from a looked after or cared for background over the coming months and demonstrating the commitment that RGU has to supporting all students to succeed.”

Charley Buchan Access RGU Team Member, Care Leaver Adviser

The accolade is also an acknowledgement of the work of RGU’s Student President for Education and Welfare, Steven Mills, who heavily promoted the WhoCare’s? Scotland ‘It’s Time to Listen’ care leavers campaign pledge across the campus. The pledge aims to tackle the discrimination associated with young people in care and leaving care.

Partner School Newsletter

ACCESS RGU

May 2014

Recent Aspire North Campus Visits ASPIRENorth is part of the Scottish Funding Council’s national ‘Schools for Higher Education

Programme’,

and

provides

support in ten schools across the North of Scotland

that

traditionally

have

low

progression rates to higher education.

RGU works in partnership with ASPIRENorth to help increase progression to higher education.

The Access RGU team recently welcomed

During the Easter break around 25 pupils

ASPIRENorth pupils from several North-East

attended a half day experience at RGU as

schools

Torry,

part of their S4 ASPIRENorth residential. The

Northfield and Kincorth Academies and

pupils engaged in taster sessions within the

Lossiemouth

different schools on campus and were given

including High

St

Machar,

School

on

to

the

Garthdee campus.

At the end of March, S3 cohorts from St Machar and Torry Academies visited the campus to find out more about university life and to begin to identify the range of skills and qualities required in higher education. Pupils had the opportunity to explore the campus using cameras and to talk to current students about life at RGU. They also participated in a range of activities designed to consider the skills students use and to develop their own core teamwork and communication skills.

Steven Mills, RGU Student president for Education and Welfare talks to visiting pupils

the opportunity to work alongside current students and teaching staff from the Aberdeen Business School, Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and the Student Association. Access RGU will be working throughout the year with pupils at various stages of ASPIRENorth with the aim of improving

confidence,

motivation,

knowledge about higher education.

and

Partner School Newsletter

ACCESS RGU Â

May 2014

Support for Enrolled Students Scholarships RGU has a range of scholarships available to undergraduate students, depending on the course and year of study. Thanks to our strong links with industry, companies generously support our students year after year and place a strong emphasis on industry based mentoring and

work

placement

opportunities.

More

information

can

be

found

by

visiting

http://www.rgu.ac.uk/future-students/finance-and-scholarships/scholarships We are continuously developing our connections with local industries and are delighted to report that the Robert Gordon University Foundation, a new venture for the university, established to undertake philanthropic fundraising, is in the process of securing scholarships specifically for wider access students. We aim to have the first scholarship opportunity in place for 2014/15 applicants and further information will be made available to our partner schools in due course.

Student Advice and Support: Study Skills Support Pupils who progress to enrol in undergraduate study with RGU can access a range of support services on campus. One such service is the Study Skills and Access Unit. The Unit provides free and confidential support in a range of study skills, offering 1-1 appointments with study support tutors, tailored to students’ individual needs, or small group and class sessions. Topics covered include the following: Managing your study time Tackling coursework Finding information and referencing Reading and note-making techniques Revision and exam techniques Presentation skills Enrolling students are provided information on these services during induction week.