School talks, parents evenings and Higher Education conventions

The Student Recruitment team at the University of Edinburgh attend Higher Education conventions and school parent’s evenings as part of their recruitment activities: WP staff attend these too, to be able to offer more tailored information and advice to potential applicants from WP backgrounds.  If a school is considered to be a high priority for WP (for example, if they have low progression to higher education) WP staff may attend a parents’ evening in lieu of the recruitment team for the same reason. Similarly, both the recruitment team and WP staff deliver talks and school assemblies on request and when it is considered that the delivery should be more WP-focussed, WP staff will deliver these. Feedback from teachers indicates that pupils appreciate hearing the advice directly from University staff, which can help to develop a positive view of the university. All these activities have the potential to encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to consider the University as an option. 

WP Staff attendance at Higher Education conventions and school parents evenings, offering information and advice which is tailored to WP pupils or applicants (for example explaining Widening Access offer policy and entrance requirements). WP staff will also deliver in-school talks and assemblies on request, which can cover topics such as writing UCAS personal statements, application advice, student finance, reasons to consider university and what to expect from studying and the wider university experience. Schools are able to request the content which most suits their needs.

UCAS organises the large-scale Higher Education conventions across Scotland, which the WP team usually attend.   

Typically, schools which have an existing relationship with the WP team - for example through a LEAPS link teacher - will request a session or attendance at a parents’ evening by contacting the WP team directly.   

Any UK school can contact either the WP team or the recruitment team and the request will be considered by the relevant team.