Want to find out more about the career you would like to follow? Interested in finding out what it’s like to study at university? Want to boost your chances of success in the future? 

Held at the University of Strathclyde, ‘S@S Accelerate 1’ is a week-long programme for pupils at the end of S4 and S5. 

Through a series of group activities, you will be able to find out more about the career you are interested in following. There are four courses that you can choose from, depending on what you might like to study after school: 

Mini Space Academy (Electronic & Electrical Engineering) 

Product Design 

Psychology 

Business 

Chemistry 

Education 

Languages 

Law 

Physics 

Sport 

Higher Education Fair brings together more than 40 universities within the UCAS scheme. The event provides the pupils with the opportunity to meet with staff from universities and colleges and discover more about the courses and options available to them. Pupils find it a useful and informative event which helps inform their choice of what and where to study. 

Skills Scotland Glasgow is part of the largest skills and careers events series for 14-19 year olds in Scotland. Pupils have the opportunity to talk to a wide range of employers, which included: Apprenticeships in Scotland, Ask A Modern Apprentice, CIMA – Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Engineering Construction Industry Training Board,   GlaxoSmithKline, Happitots Day Nursery (Training) Ltd, Royal Navy & Royal Marines to name just a few. The event is hugely interactive, with pupils getting the chance to touch, feel and experience firsthand a huge range of available careers. 

For the past few years senior pupils have benefitted from attending a training course run by Historic Scotland. Pupils have the opportunity to sample crafts such as: masonry, slating, lead beating and carpentry. Additionally, presentations given by construction industry leaders, Historic Scotland employees and the Director of North Glasgow College have opened up other opportunities for the pupils to participate in. These opportunities include college courses, Historic Scotland apprentiships, and job opportunities in the UK and abroad. 

Each year a small number of pupils have the opportunity to gain a week’s work experience in an area relevant to their aspirations and interests. All senior pupils (S4 –S6) are encouraged to seek out their own work experience as this will give them a better understanding of the world of work and help them make informed decisions about their career path. S6 pupils can organise work shadowing during some of their study periods. 

A number of pupils from Kirkintilloch High School have been involved in the REACH programme over the past few years with several successfully securing a university place in their chosen field. 

Reach Scotland is a national project that aims to encourage, support and prepare secondary school pupils with the interest, and potential to study one of the following degrees: Dentistry, Law, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at University of Aberdeen, University of Dundee, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow and St. Andrews University. 

The Reach programme for the West of Scotland is co-ordinated by the University of Glasgow. The Reach West of Scotland programme is structured in the following way: - 

S4 

• At the start of S4 all KHS pupils who express an interest in studying Dentistry, Law, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at university will be given the opportunity to engage in the REACHprogramme. In Oct/Nov of S4, pupils will be introduced to each of the four subjects and specific aspects of each degree. They will also look at entry qualifications for each of the four areas and ensure that pupils gain a clear understanding of which subjects they need to sit in their Higher year.
• A University campus visit will then lead on from the school session and will include practical workshops/demonstrations to showcase each of the schools.  University staff and students will be involved in this day.
• Out with the school and University campus sessions pupils will be given access to the University of Glasgow’s Virtual Learning Environment (Moodle).  This will allow pupils to complete work, access useful resources and give them the chance to ask questions and chat with undergraduate student e-mentors from each of the schools.

S5 

• The second school session (Feb/March of S5) will introduce each of the assignments set by the four schools.  Pupils will be asked to research and make preparatory notes in response to their chosen question in preparation for the summer school in June. Pupils will be assessed on their participation in this session, on their response to the question set and their participation in the related seminar/tutorial on campus in June.
• Pupils will be invited to a 1-week long summer school (mid June) to take part in lectures, seminars, workshopsetc, in their chosen subject. The week will also involve coaching sessions for pupils with current undergraduate students and staff regarding UCAS applications, personal statements, UKCAT, LNAT tests and interview preparation etc.
• The Reachprogrammewill provide pupils with support should they need help in finding work experience.  This is a very important aspect of their application, especially for those thinking of Medicine, Vet Medicine or Dentistry. 
• Again pupils will be able to access all of the resources on our online Learning Environment (Moodle) for the duration of 5th year.

S6 

• The focus of the third school session (Sept/Oct of S6) will be to prepare and support participating pupils during the final stages of the application process with particular emphasis on the Personal Statement.
• Pupils intending to apply to Medicine, Vet Medicine or Dentistry will be invited to take part in an interview skills workshop, at the University campus, with staff and current students. 
• Again pupils will be able to access all of the resources on our online Learning Environment (Moodle) for the duration of 6th year.

Pupils who are successful in gaining entry to the University will be provided with support (should they need it), via current undergraduate mentors and other University Services. 

Reach student profile and assessment 

Upon successful completion of the Reach programme pupils will be awarded a profile that will be sent to admissions officers in the institution to which they are applying. Admissions officers may take this profile into account however taking part in the Reach programme is NOT a guarantee of a place at University.  The profile will be based on participation throughout the programme as well as an assessed piece of work in S5.  The experiences pupils will gain throughout the Reach project will also ensure they are well prepared for the application and admissions procedures and, hopefully, the transition to University study. 

S2 IDL project based on Careers and engaged the support of some subject departments. Outside speakers visited S2 classes, during subject time, and gave presentations. Through these presentations, pupils’ broadened their knowledge of skills, qualifications, training etc. needed for careers in these areas. Pupils recorded this information in a booklet which was followed up by discussion in their PSE class. In addition, each S2 pupil produced a leaflet/poster/PowerPoint on a chosen career. They presented these to the rest of the class and the standard was excellent. 

Planning your future