Tag: education

St Andrews takes the crown as the best university in Scotland

 The University of St Andrews has taken the crown as the Complete University Guide’s best higher education institution in Scotland. 

Some institutions in Scotland have had a stable year in the Complete University Guide’s rankings with notable universities holding their rankings from previous years. These include St Andrews holding its position in 4th place and the University of Edinburgh holding its 12th place for another year.

In the overall league tables, the University of St Andrews is 4th sitting just below the London School of Economics. Naturally, within the region St Andrews came top for Student Satisfaction, Academic Services Spend and Graduate Prospects.

Within Scotland, there are pockets of subject-level excellence. Despite the following universities performing below 40th in the overall table, there are some examples of high-quality subject rankings reinforcing the importance of looking below the overall ranking. The University of Dundee (49th) ranks 1st nationally for Forensic Science as well as 2nd for Medical Technology & Bioengineering and Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (93rd) ranks 1st for Complementary Medicine. 

Every year the Complete University Guide releases UK university and subject league tables to support prospective students in making informed decisions about their future. The regional league tables help people find the right university for them in their area and are also informative for local employers to know what skills people are coming to the area to develop.

The Complete University Guide follows on from last month’s Whatuni Student Choice Awards, building on the information available to prospective students to help them make the right decisions as they consider their higher education options. 

Having eight of the nation’s universities ranking in the UK’s top 50 in this year’s Complete University Guide demonstrates how the area is on track for another year of high-quality education and training provision for students and employers alike. The University of Edinburgh and University of Glasgow join St Andrews in the UK’s top 25 universities. 

Professor Amanda Chetwynd, Chair of the Complete University Guide Advisory Board, said: “Congratulations to the University of St Andrews for achieving the top position in this year’s Complete University Guide regional rankings. The tight rankings show just how high the standards are among Scotland’s top universities.

“Many prospective students in Scotland are keen to find the best university in the local area. Complete University Guide’s regional league tables are a valuable source of information to give local prospective students a greater understanding of what higher education options there are in Scotland.”

Simon Emmett, Chief Executive Officer of IDP Connect, said: “With more prospective students actively researching their options each year, the 2023 Complete University Guide league tables will serve as an important guide. We believe these rankings help them to make the right decisions as they consider their next steps into higher education.

“The independence of the Complete University Guide remains a critical part of our organisation. The tables’ independence from our other operations ensures that students, parents, and advisors can trust the results and make informed choices based on them.”

European Movement calls on Scottish Government to give young people a chance with Erasmus replacement

The European Movement in Scotland, Scotland’s leading pro-EU organisation, calls on the Scottish Government to give young people a chance and put in place a replacement for Erasmus+, the world’s biggest and most successful student exchange programme.

The Scottish Government’s decision to shelve plans to replace Erasmus+ is depriving young people of life-changing opportunities. We are calling on them to restore the opportunities afforded by Erasmus+ and implement a comprehensive Scottish Exchange Programme that enables young people from all walks of life to live, learn and work overseas.

Following the UK government’s decision to quit Erasmus+ and the EU’s block on Scotland rejoining the scheme on its own, the Scottish Government pledged to develop and implement an equivalent programme alongside their counterparts in Wales.

The Welsh Government have put their £65m scheme in place but the Scottish Government have delayed their own indefinitely.

This delay is damaging for the thousands of young people who wish to enhance their education and training by studying in Europe. Those from disadvantaged backgrounds and/or in FE colleges are feeling the biggest impact with targeted funding taken away since the UK left Erasmus+.

Chair of the European Movement in Scotland Mark Lazarowicz says: “The loss of Erasmus+ is an act of cultural vandalism and we must do everything to restore the huge opportunities it gives to students, apprentices and others.”

Learn more about The European Movement’s Campaign by visiting:

Give Young People a chance – Support a Scottish Replacement for Erasmus+

Holocaust survivor Henry returns to Central Station to share story

Former Jewish-German child refugee Henry Wuga MBE, who came to Glasgow with the Kindertransport, returned to Central Station on Friday to launch a new learning programme with high school pupils.

Mr Wuga, 98, joined Poppyscotland and Gathering the Voices to help launch new lessons for Scottish schools, based on his story and that of other young refugees during the Second World War.

Pupils will also be encouraged to reflect these incredible stories and on the issues facing more recent child refugees, including millions of Ukrainians fleeing their war-torn country today.

Aged just 15, Mr Wuga escaped the horrors of Nazi Germany in 1939, leaving his parents behind in Nuremberg. He went on to make Scotland his home, marrying Ingrid, who also escaped via the Kindertransport, and managing his own catering business.

Mr Wuga met 10 S2 pupils from Shawlands Academy under the clock at Central Station, where he first arrived in Scotland. That was followed by a discussion between Henry and the students about his experiences, the Holocaust, and modern child refugees to Scotland.

The school has piloted Poppyscotland’s 10 lesson activity pack, written by Alison McFarlane, a History and Modern Studies teacher from Oban High School. The engaging and factual content focuses on the video testimonies of three Kindertransport escapees and Holocaust survivors, Mr Wuga, Rosa Sacharin and Karola Regent.

The new suite of resources will further enhance Poppyscotland’s vast Learning programme and are designed to help pupils understand the plight of Jewish people under the Nazi regime and the experiences of young refugees then and now.

Mr Wuga chatted to the pupils about their thoughts on the lessons and answered some thought-provoking questions.

The only son of successful caterers, Mr Wuga enjoyed a happy childhood before the Nazis took power. Then, he witnessed growing anti-Semitism, from bullying at school to the horrors of Kristallnacht in 1938, when Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues were attacked.

As tensions increased, his mother secured him a place on the Kindertransport, an international humanitarian programme that brought around 10,000 children to Britain in the months leading up to the outbreak of war. After arriving in Glasgow, he went on to attend school and work on a farm in Perthshire before being wrongly accused of espionage after writing letters to his parents in Germany 

His name was cleared, and after the war ended, he returned to Glasgow, where he took a job as a chef. Sadly, his father died of a heart attack during an air raid in 1941, but he was able to bring his mother, who had survived the war thanks to the help of a Catholic neighbour, to Scotland. His wife, Ingrid, also lost many close relatives and friends during the Holocaust.

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Mr Wuga said: “It was very interesting meeting the pupils and answering their questions. I think it’s so important to share my story with a new generation while I can.

“When I first arrived here 83 years ago it was a shock – I didn’t speak the language well, the food and customs were new. But Glasgow was very welcoming and I made it my home.”

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Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising and Learning, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Mr Wuga for supporting us and sharing his harrowing story with a new generation of Scottish children.

“His first-hand testimony is an important addition to our learning programme and will encourage young young people to reflect on issues that are all too relevant today.

“Sadly, millions of children throughout the world continue to be uprooted from their homes, escaping war, persecution, and poverty.  We hope this will promote a wider understanding of refugees’ experiences, then and now, the challenges they face when arriving in Scotland.”

The Gathering the Voices Association  is a project to record audio and video testimonies from Holocaust refugees who have a connection to Scotland, and educate current and future generations about their resilience.

It is made up of three ‘second generation’ refugees and their partners, who have collected more than 50 interviews which are freely at www.gatheringthevoices.com.

Dr Angela Shapiro, from the Gathering the Voices Association said: “We hope that by focusing on the stories of Mr Wuga and other young refugees, this will help bring the lessons to life.

“Young people can learn about the Holocaust and the resilience of the refugees who escaped from Nazi-occupied Europe, and the lessons we can all learn from those who lived through it.”

Edinburgh children ‘excelling under the SNP Scottish Government’

SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald has welcomed figures which show children across Edinburgh are excelling under the SNP Scottish Government.

Schools across Edinburgh are benefitting from £7.2m of funding for the coming year to reduce the attainment gap in the area.

As a result 95.1% of young people in the area go on to positive destinations. The latest figures also show that 19,523 have went into a modern apprenticeship under the SNP Scottish Government.

In helping to close the attainment gap, there are currently 10,016 children receiving free school meals.

Commenting, Gordon MacDonald said: “Since the SNP formed a government in 2007, attainment and the number of pupils going on to positive destinations has improved across Edinburgh.

“This is down to the funding the SNP Scottish Government has provided to reduce the attainment gap and I am delighted that this will continue as £7.2m has been committed to reduce the gap even further for the coming year.

“The SNP Scottish Government is also ensuring that P1-3 children have the best start to their day by providing free school meals. This will also be extended to all primary schools within this parliamentary term.

“It is only the SNP who can be trusted to protect Scotland’s education system and on May 5 the people of Edinburgh have the chance to send a message to the Tories that we do not trust them with it.”

Free tuition for displaced Ukranian students settling in Scotland

Displaced Ukrainian students settling in Scotland will be given access to free tuition and living cost support, subject to parliamentary approval.

Under new proposals from the Scottish Government, Ukrainians wishing to embark on a further or higher education course from academic year 2022-23 will be eligible for free tuition and living cost support, providing they have submitted an application to the Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family or the Ukraine Extension schemes.

Existing Ukrainian students who have previously started courses in Scotland and who are experiencing hardship will be eligible to apply for immediate financial assistance through a newly created £1 million International Students’ Emergency Fund.

Minister for Higher Education and Further Education Jamie Hepburn said: “We are determined to do everything we can to give displaced people from Ukraine the warmest welcome possible and we want to ensure students arriving here have the support they need to start or continue their higher and further education.  

“By extending home fee status and living cost support to students arriving from Ukraine we hope to provide some stability and assurance at this deeply troubling time and ensure those forced to flee their homes can live safely and comfortably in Scotland for as long as they need to.

“We have also created a new £1 million International Students’ Emergency Fund. This will help Ukrainian students already in Scotland who find themselves in hardship due to their situation, to continue their studies.

“Education opens doors to opportunities and transforms lives for the better so it is absolutely crucial we remove any financial barriers those displaced by the conflict may face.” 

The proposals mean a change to the residency criteria in Scotland in the fees and student support regulations will be applied to those individuals who are eligible and have applied to the Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family or the Ukraine Extension schemes.

Ukrainian students already undertaking higher or further education courses who apply to the Ukraine Extension scheme will be eligible for support via the International Students’ Emergency Fund, should they be facing financial hardship. Those seeking to apply should contact their institution for more information.

The updates to legislation will ensure eligible students can access free tuition and living cost support of up to £8,100 per year in the form of bursaries and loans, and those entering college in further education are eligible for bursary and grants of up to £4,668 each year.

Regulations are due to be laid in parliament in early May. Subject to Parliamentary approval, they will come into force on 1 August 2022, which is the first day of the 2022-23 academic year.

Higher and Further Education Minister Jamie Hepburn has signed a joint letter with members of the European Higher Education Area, condemning the invasion of Ukraine and committing, with partners across Europe, to supporting Ukrainian students.

Letters: Councils have vital role

Dear Editor

With the elections for Scotland’s local authorities happening on May 5th, it is important to emphasise the vital role councils play in helping blind and partally sighted people to live as independently and inclusively as possible.

People with a visual impairment are more likely to depend on services  from their local council, for information that’s readily available in alternative formats, public transport that’s accessible, streets and thoroughfares that allow people to walk safely and without obstacles, education that allows every child to reach their full potential, and employment that’s informed by a better understanding of what those with sight loss can do.

Around 178,000 people are currently living with a significant degree of sight loss in Scotland, of whom over 4,000 are children and young  people. Our ageing population and the increase in sight-theatening conditions such as diabetes means this number will, inevitably, grow.

Let’s make one positive legacy of the upheaval we’ve all been through a resolve to make sure we re-emerge as a society in which no one is left at the margins.

Our local authorities are absolutely key to this.

James Adams

Director, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Scotland

12-14 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh

Medical Research Scotland inspires Scotland’s future scientists with live streamed careers events in schools

Medical Research Scotland, Scotland’s largest independent medical research charity, has helped more than 350 young people across Scotland connect with the country’s leading scientists and academics to learn about further education and careers in medical science.

Reaching 350 pupils from more than 30 schools across the country, the Medical Research Scotland Academy aims to inspire the next generation of scientists so they can play a role in addressing the STEM skills shortage in Scotland.

The participating local Edinburgh schools were St George’s School, Stewart’s Melville College, The Edinburgh Academy and The Mary Erskine School

S4, S5 and S6 pupils joined the Medical Research Scotland Academy for a month of live-streamed interactive lessons broadcast to science classrooms across Scotland – from Aberdeen to Dumfries.

The programme was provided to schools free of charge, featuring inspiring young scientists at the cutting edge of their field alongside senior university lecturers. The bitesize sessions are also available on-demand at medicalresearchscotland.org.uk.

One school to benefit was Bishopbriggs Academy where pupils learned about medical research into viruses, the brain, sleep and parasites alongside many other topics from research scientists at the University of Aberdeen, University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh, University of St Andrews and the University of Strathclyde.

Lesley Dawson, teacher at Bishopbriggs Academy, said: “While the pandemic has caused huge challenges for the education sector, it has also inspired our pupils to find out more about medical research and they were excited to access this live streamed education programme.

“The Medical Research Scotland Academy was an opportunity to connect our students with inspirational scientists. The webinar series has ignited our pupils’ passion for science and provided a taste of the higher education and career opportunities open to them.”

Medical Research Scotland works tirelessly to improve health in Scotland by funding world-class research into the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases.  

If you would like to help contribute to these efforts, please visit:  medicalresearchscotland.org.uk.

Professor Heather Wallace, PhD (Aberdeen), Chair of Medical Research Scotland, said: “Scotland has a proud tradition of developing world class research scientists making pioneering discoveries and improving global health.

“Through the Medical Research Scotland Academy, we aimed to inspire and connect the next generation with Scotland’s leading medical professionals and academics. Bringing together schools from across the country, we’ve seen first-hand the huge interest in medical science amongst school leavers.”

Schools: Another £520 million to help close poverty-related attainment gap

Scotland’s headteachers will receive more than half a billion pounds of secured funding over the next four years to help close the attainment gap.

Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) totalling £520 million will be distributed to schools in every council area to help headteachers put in place more support for children and young people.

Edinburgh’s share of PEF is over £7.86 million.

The funding has been confirmed for multiple years to provide more certainty for headteachers and allow for longer-term planning.

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Tackling the poverty-related attainment gap and giving every young person the chance to fulfil their full potential remains our priority, and we are investing an increased £1 billion through schools and local authorities over the course of this Parliament to support this ambition.

“Our headteachers and teachers know their pupils best and have told us that our measures are working. We are determined to ensure they are empowered to take the approaches that are right for the children and young people in their schools to help improve attainment.

“Our allocation of more than £520 million of PEF for the next four years will give headteachers the confidence and security they need to plan long term. However, we know schools can’t do this alone, and headteachers should work in partnership with each other, Education Scotland and their local authority, to agree the use of the funding.”

St Francis Primary School headteacher Margot MacAlister said: “Pupil Equity Funding has been key in allowing me to deliver my vision for the community I serve. From the beginning it has provided me with stability in terms of funding posts previously reliant on my devolved budget.

“This has allowed me to build purposeful and trusting working relationships with partners over time that bring a great richness to a child’s learning experience.

“Our nurture programme and now our EXCEL programme has become embed in the culture and ethos of the school and addresses the whole child now and in the future.”

Help for Edinburgh’s young people to access education and employment opportunities

A budget of over £3million is being committed to support more young people into training, education or workplace opportunities over the next year.

This is being done by the City of Edinburgh Council, as part of the Young Person’s Guarantee (YPG) funding from the Scottish Government, as Scotland’s Capital looks to build a stronger, fairer and more sustainable economy.

At yesterday’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work (HHFW) committee (24 March) councillors were given an update on the diverse range of projects and programmes, both new and existing, across the city. These will help to support young people aged between 16-24 years old, from a wide variety of backgrounds and stages of their training or career journeys.

The help that young people can expect to receive through these programmes will include mental health support, early skills training, practical skills training, as well as in-work support and mentoring as they progress into employment. In particular, young people who find it difficult to access opportunities will be targeted to help them to either prepare or give them the tools to find work.  

As part of the initiatives, a further small grant opportunity for third-party employability programmes will be opening in April on the Joined Up for Jobs website.

YPG funding will also go to the NHS to run a new programme for care experienced young people who are looking for work experience, as well as a Job Creation Scheme to support progression from current YPG paid placements. This will offer funding to support the first year of up to 20 Modern or Graduate Apprenticeships within the Council and third sector organisations who are currently providing work placements. 

The city’s five Activity Agreement Hubs will also benefit from additional funding. The Hubs work with young people who have left school without a positive destination, or who drop out of college, training or their first job, to gain the skills they need to move into education or employment.

In addition, in a separate report to HHFW, it was agreed that funding from the Scottish Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee will be used to support a new pilot programme that will look to enhance Employer Recruitment Incentives (ERIs) by offering an uplift to match the Real Living Wage where the employee is from a disadvantaged household and starting a Modern Apprenticeship or gaining a recognised qualification.

The funding is being delivered through the city’s own Edinburgh Guarantee, which last year expanded to help people of all ages access fair work, training and employment.    

Councillor Kate Campbell, Convener of the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee said: “Thanks to this funding, we are able to continue supporting existing programmes, as well as new projects, that are having a real impact for young people.

“There are so many good ideas and new, innovative programmes by organisations across the city that will help get people’s education and career goals back on track after what’s been a very disrupting time.

“We’re particularly mindful of the impact the pandemic has had on young people and people facing additional barriers. That’s why we also want to make sure that we continue to reach every area of the city by making sure the programmes we fund cover every community.

“The Young Person’s Guarantee grant programme will help to increase those opportunities and will complement the already extensive support provided across the city.”

Councillor Mandy Watt, Vice Convener of the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee, said: “Our Edinburgh Guarantee promises that no one will be left behind.

“Through the continuation of this small grant programme for another year we hope to make sure those who need our help will be given the opportunity to access the support they need – whether that’s for training or career aspirations – to reach their goals. We also want to make sure that this is spread out across the city and that those experiencing the greatest barriers get the most help from these grant programmes.”

SQA no more: Three new national education bodies announced

Reforms to support learners and teachers

Three national organisations are to be announced – created to drive improvement in education.

A new public body will be responsible for developing and awarding qualifications. It will replace the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and it will have a governance structure that is more representative of, and accountable to, learners, teachers and practitioners.

A national agency for education will see Education Scotland (ES) replaced. The new executive agency will provide improved support and professional learning to teachers and schools, and provide advice and guidance on curriculum, assessment, learning and teaching. 

Thirdly, a new and independent inspectorate body will be created. It will develop new inspection models and help to assess the overall performance of Scottish education.

The organisations will be required to work more closely with learners and education professionals.

ES and SQA will continue to deliver their functions while the new bodies are being developed, ensuring continuity for learners, including those sitting exams.

The new organisations were announced as part of the Scottish Government’s response to a report on reform of the SQA and ES by independent adviser Professor Ken Muir, University of the West of Scotland.

The Scottish Government has broadly accepted all of Professor Muir’s recommendations, including making a commitment to lead a national discussion on the vision for the future of education.

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The three new education bodies will be underpinned by new values and governance. I have also announced my intention to work in partnership to build a new vision for Scottish education.

“These changes are designed to improve outcomes and build trust in Scotland’s education system. Our renewed system must reflect the culture and values we want to see embedded throughout; it must be a system that puts learners at the centre and provides excellent support for our teachers and practitioners.

“It must also be a system where there is clear accountability – democratic accountability, organisational accountability but also accountability to the learners, who have a right to expect the highest quality of learning and teaching while giving them the best chance of success.”

Professor Muir said: “As our students and society change over time, so too do our expectations of what we want and need from our education system. It is important that Scottish education reflects and responds to those changes in ways that offer opportunities for all current and future learners to thrive.

“The recommendations in my report are designed to ensure that the needs of every individual learner lie at the heart of all decisions taken and all that we do.

“They are designed to ensure that the voices of learners, teachers and practitioners have greater prominence and influence in decision making and that teachers and practitioners receive the support they need in carrying out their challenging and critically important teaching role.” 

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