Encouraging more young people in Glasgow to access higher education

Published: 10 November 2015

Each year the council produces a special publication that outlines services across the city to help and encourage young people into positive destinations and higher education from school.

Glasgow's figures for young people going to higher education has risen for the 8th year in a row and at 33.9% in 2015, this is the highest proportion of Glasgow's young people progressing into higher education from school ever.

In 2000, only 16.7% of school leavers in the city went to university.

We have said repeatedly that we want the very best for every Glasgow youngster and the increase compared to the previous years is really good news and a testament to the hard work, determination and commitment of pupils and their teachers across the city.

As Bailie Liz Cameron, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Lifelong Learning says: "Our investment in education is bringing significant benefits to our young people.

"I am thrilled that so many more of our young citizens are accessing higher university opportunities. 

"This publication is a wealth of information about our higher education partnerships and widening access initiatives.

"We will continue to work hard to ensure every young Glaswegian has the opportunity to excel and leaves school with the qualifications, life skills and confidence to face the world of work."

However, access to higher education can still be a daunting prospect for many young people in Glasgow and so a couple of years ago council officers produced a special widening access document for schools to access a number of initiatives across the city tasked with improving social mobility.

This has now been updated and published to reflect and include new initiatives and projects with stakeholders.

Bailie Liz Cameron adds: "This is a wonderful document and resource information for schools.

"We've worked extremely hard to improve the destinations of all young people in the city and our programmes are reaping the benefits. We recorded the best ever exam results this year and with more and more young people getting access to further and higher education; we are improving the life chances of all."

You can read the full document to find out what is available to young people and schools across the city and contributing to raising the aspirations of Glasgow's pupils Widening Access Update Jan 2016 (PDF, 2 MB)(opens new window).