Work Programme

The Forum has two key programmes of work - a schools programme (ASPIRENorth - see http://www.scotland-aspirenorth.ac.uk/), and a communities program.

In 2008/09, ASPIRENorth will continue its programme of schools work, fulfilling its eight stated aims, which are to:

Focus its work on young people from P7 to S4 in schools with low progression rates to higher education during this crucial 'first chance' phase, to raise awareness, aspirations and expectations of higher education.
Develop a programme of activity which acknowledges and reflects best widening participation practice across Scotland, and builds relationships with schools and other Widening Participation Forums in order to facilitate this.
Engage positively with the chief influencers of young people, i.e. parents, school staff and any directly relevant community groups within the context of the geography of the target schools.
Work to promote positive attitudes to learning and improve the skills, knowledge and confidence of the young people it works with.
Raise aspirations and awareness of non-advanced as well as advanced post-school provision and will highlight and promote the links in between.
Work to build strong relationships with all partners and in developing activities will also be mindful of the need both to enhance what already exists and look towards longer-term embedding and sustainability.
Monitor progression to higher education within its target schools, take cognizance of any sector-wide targets to be set, and engage with regional partners as appropriate to contribute to the achievement of these.
Monitor and evaluate the project’s programmes and activities to provide meaningful evidence of their quality and effectiveness in relation to the stated strategic aims of the project

In our communities programme, in 2008/09, we will:

Develop and implement a programme of activity designed to address the Forum’s key objectives in this area (see strategic plan, section 8)
Build on the work in 2006/07 and 2007/08 to encourage and support the increased participation of men in post-compulsory education, broadening this work to address other priority areas identified in the strategic plan.
Develop further the Forum’s working relationship with the local authorities in the North of Scotland, particularly in relation to the interface between informal and formal post-compulsory education.
Work in partnership with other community bodies to impact on key groups (e.g. migrant workers, those with health difficulties).
Raise the profile of educational opportunities in community settings through appropriate marketing and provision of information; again, working in partnership with other bodies.

More details are available in our Strategic Plan

Caitriona Maciver, North Forum Manager
Castle House, Fairways Business Park, Castle Heather, Inverness, IV2 6AA
Tel: 01463 701010 email: c.maciver@abdn.ac.uk