​The University’s Development and External Relations Office’s Schools Engagement Programme has engaged with more than 700 young people in the city over the last two years, most of whom reside in the Gorgie and Sighthill ward in south-west Edinburgh.

This ward is associated with significantly below average performance indicators with regards to employment, housing, health, crime as well as education, skills and training. Over one third of residents within the Gorgie and Sighthill ward do not possess formal educational qualifications and low numbers of young people progress to further education. Such low academic achievement can be perceived as both an outcome and cause of poverty and deprivation as well as poor mental health.

The primary purpose of the project is to attempt to address these poor performance indicators, with a focus on instilling academic aspiration, raising educational attainment and increasing progression to further education for young people within the ward.

The programme supports Edinburgh Napier University’s Widening Participation strategy and, aims to be a key partner in initiatives to close the attainment gap in local schools, from primary school onwards. The sporting activities align with Edinburgh Napier University’s Strategy for Sport, investing in people to secure our sporting future and building a community of physical activity and health.

Primary Sevens (May 2018)

Edinburgh Napier University worked in partnership with Edinburgh Rugby and the Scottish Rugby Union to deliver a rugby session which focuses on basic skills development, health and fitness and teamwork. SRU Academy players, serving as positive role models, provided a presentation in the afternoon to reinforce the importance of health, diet and fitness as well as discipline and career aspirations.

Edinburgh Napier University’s Widening Participation team asked the pupils to devise a TV and radio campaign which focused on encouraging young people to think about studying at university. Academic staff delivered a forensic science exercise which focused on identifying the iron content in breakfast cereals as well as a range of supporting experiments.

Primary Sixes (June 2018)

The pupils participated in futsal skills session, delivered by Hutchison Vale Community Football Club and Salveston Football Club, which focused on basic skills development, health and fitness and teamwork. The Big Hearts Foundation delivered a presentation in the afternoon to communicate to the pupils that football extends far beyond the activity itself and can be used as a medium for rebuilding lives in the local community. Edinburgh Napier University’s Widening Participation team and student ambassadors delivered presentations to introduce the theme of university and academic subjects, with the purpose of instilling a sense of academic aspiration.

Sighthill Primary School teacher Liza Hunter said, “It was perfectly planned, with a selection of activities and a delicious lunch for the children. The staff were fantastic and, throughout the trip, all of my class were engaged and enthusiastic, so much so that they actually didn’t want to leave at the end of the day. The children were talking about University, which was a complete joy to hear, as many of them may have felt prior to this trip that it was out of their reach.”

Local Ward Councillor Cathy Fullerton added, “I’m proud to represent an area I have lived in all my life. However, this is also the area in Edinburgh that has the highest proportion of child poverty. So I welcome and endorse this amazing programme that Edinburgh Napier University have delivered with our local schools. The passion and commitment of the Napier team has already resulted in a visible and measurable increase in confidence and engagement with the community and our high schools and primary schools.

“One of the keys to open doors for our children is to alert them to the opportunities they have available and what they can achieve. This programme achieves this by unlocking their minds to see that they can go into further or higher education.

“The wonderful and dedicated team at Napier, led by Gary Seath, have spent time in our community and are now an important part of that community. They know and work with our local organisations and groups and have built strong relationships with bigger neighbours and sports partners who are now playing a part in helping pupils understand what is available on their doorstep, but weren’t accessing because of perceived barriers.

“These barriers are being broken down and, going forward, I see the community succeeding in a way that will result in more of our children having happier and more fulfilled lives.”


For more information on the programme, email Gary Seath, Community and Partnership Officer.