S4 Resource
Welcome S4 Core Pupils!
On this webpage you will find all the information you need to engage fully with the S4 LIFT OFF programme . It can also be used to help you explore your post school options and find out about different opportunities which can support you on your journey.
This page is currently under development.
S4 Engagements
Core Pupil Meetings (CPM) take place will be your first engagement with LIFT OFF as a Core Pupil. Below we have broken down what they are, when and where they take place and how you can best prepare for them.
What: CPMs are 10 minute meetings which are designed for us to get to know you better, help you start exploring your post school options and if appropriate, set some goals. We will discuss your current interests, hobbies and qualifications and will use this to help give you an idea of what further study you might wish to explore. Through discussing your current strengths and areas for development, we will also help sign post you to other relevant organisations and agencies which can provide relevant and beneficial experiences and advice.
The aim of CPMs is not for you to decide your future in 10 minutes but to support you to start thinking and exploring your options.
Where and When: CPMs take place in Term 1 between August and December. You will receive an email and text from LIFT OFF close to the date of your CPM which will share the date of your meeting and where and who to collect your permission slip from. This permission slip will tell you the exact time of your meeting. It is usually your LIFT OFF school contact teacher who will collect your permission slip from. You should also receive a reminder text on the day of your CPM.
Preparing for CPMs: As CPMs are only 10 minute exploratory chats so there is nothing you must do before you attend. All we ask is that you come ready and willing to chat! However, under the ‘Explore Online’ banner below are some suggestions of websites which help you find out more on your post school options. Accessing these websites might allow you to identify areas of interest and/or provide you with questions you would like us to answer during your CPM.
Our S4 Campus Event takes place in Term 3 (February) and aims to give LIFT OFF Core Pupils a chance to experience what life is like as a university student.
During the visit we hope to provide Core Pupils with a strong insight into the different subjects provided at Higher Education level, the different teaching styles and to hear about the process of applying to university as well as how they can be supported throughout. By being on campus, we hope Core Pupils see that university is something they can all aim for and that is somewhere where everyone belongs and is welcome. Core Pupils will get a chance to meet with university staff and students as well other LIFT OFF pupils, staff and volunteers.
Click the tile below to find the latest updates about our Campus Event such as where and when we are going, times and locations for bus pick up/drop off and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). This page will be updated with information as planning for our Campus Event takes place.
LIFT OFF strive to deliver a residential element within our S4 programme as we very much value the deep and meaningful impact it makes to our Core Pupils.
Our residential offering changes year on year depending on availability, budget and alternative offerings provided by our partners.
Residential opportunities will be shared with your school contact teacher, promoted in school to your S4 Core Pupil group and also shared via social media and email. Depending on the offering, there may be an application form to complete as well as teacher reference (which will be complete by your LIFT OFF contact teacher or guidance team). Residential offerings are usually advertised in April.
Our S4 Resource Page (the page you are currently on) is designed to support you engage with our programme, keep uptodate with opportunities and explore your post school options.
We also encourage all our Core Pupils to follow our Instagram. Our Instagram will allow you to find information about our upcoming events, watch highlights of our current student volunteers ‘Day in a Life’ and find out about events you may take part in when you move into S5 and S6. You can follow us clicking the Instagram at the top right hand side of the page.
Our email inbox is open throughout the year and you will receive emails from us at different points throughout your S4 journey. If you have any questions, concerns, feedback or suggestions we strongly encourage you to
Explore Online
University
College
Apprenticeships
Explore further
Exploring your post school options online is a great place to start but getting practical experience and exposure to the different professions, courses and pathways can be extremely impactful when it comes to make a choice about higher education. Below are a few suggestions of ways you can access these opportunities alongside the LIFT OFF programme.
Reach Scotland
Reach Scotland is a national programme, established through support from the Scottish Funding Council, with the overall aim of widening participation in high demand professions. Five universities facilitate Reach, and each university covers a different region of Scotland. Reach have two local branches to LIFT OFF which are Reach Tayside and Reach Fife and we have detailed information of both below.
Like LIFT OFF, all Reach programmes have eligibility criteria and therefore you must apply before attending any Reach engagements. You can check their eligibility criteria as well as finding out how and where to apply on their individual websites which we have linked below.
Reach Fife supports young people from S4 to S6 interested in exploring and pursuing studies in Medicine, Economics, Management and psychology.
REACH Tayside supports young people from S4 to S6 interested in exploring and pursuing studies in Medicine, Dentistry and Law.
Access to Creative Education Scotland (ACES)
ACES aims to encourage, educate, and empower S4 to S6 pupils to consider careers and higher education in art, design, and architecture. Their broad programme of events and 1-1 support helps pupils to explore their options, create a competitive application, and develop a strong portfolio of work.
Like LIFT OFF, you must meet eligibility criteria to engage with ACES engagements and therefore you must apply. You can check their eligibility criteria as well as finding out how and where to apply on the ACES website. We have detailed the link for ACES Tayside below which is our closest ACES partner.
ACES Tayside works with eligible pupils attending S4-S6 at all schools in Dundee, Angus, Perth & Kinross, and Fife.
ACES (Access to Creative Education in Scotland) | University of Dundee, UK
Volunteer
Volunteering can support you explore your potential interests within higher education and the world of work. It can also help you develop the relevant skills necessary to succeed at university and further. Below we have linked a useful website which can help you identify relevant volunteer opportunities within the local area.
The volunteering which you chose to undertake does not always have to be directly linked to the subject you are interested in. It is more important that you reflect on your time volunteering, identify the skills in which you have developed and think about the aspects of the experience you enjoyed and did not. We have linked some useful organisations below which can help you find oppurtunties in your local area and further afield.
Ask a question
Have a question about something on this page? Want to know more about LIFT OFF, Reach or ACES? Want to organise a quick informal chat? Leave a message below and we will get back to you.