Inspiring Learning

YASS

Kitty ChilcottYASS Project Officer

YASS?

Young Applicants in Schools Scheme

What is it?

• A partnership between The Open University and schools, funded by the Scottish Funding Council

• Allows S6 pupils to experience Higher Education level study alongside their other subjects

• Students can choose from a range of OU modules at SCQF level 7

• Give students the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of their Higher and Advanced Higher subjects or try a topic which is not available in school

• An opportunity to improve skills such as independent learning and time management

From small beginnings

• YASS was introduced in Scotland as a pilot with Highland Council 2007/08

• In it’s first year 30 students from 10 schools took part in the programme

• In 2012/13 nearly 600 students from 100 schools across Scotland took part

• We now have YASS students in the Boarders, Dumfries and Galloway, Highlands & Islands, Fife, Edinburgh and Glasgow

What are the benefits of YASS?

• IT’S FREE – all 10 & 15 point module fees are completely covered by SFC funding*

• Builds confidence and assists the transition from school to university

• Helps make UCAS applications stand out

• *Some students are eligible for full funding for larger point modules

• An opportunity to experience university level study and develop important skills such as independent study and time management

• Students can study subjects that may not otherwise be available in school

Who are YASS students?

o Not just the top 5%o Motivatedo Committedo Interestedo Able to meet deadlines

What are the demands of YASS?

• Students will:o Have responsibility for own learningo Develop critical thinking and research

skills

• Workload:o Alongside S6 study

• Time management:o 6-16 hours study per week

Structure of modules and average hours of study

Points at SCQF Level 7

Duration Weekly workload

10 4 months 6 – 8 hours

15 4 months 8 - 10 hours

30 6 months 14 – 16 hours

30 8/9 months 8 – 10 hours

60 8/9 months 16 hours

YASS modules

32 modules are offered in:• Arts and Humanities • Business Studies • Computing• Education• Engineering & Technology• Environment• Financial Management

• Health & Social Care• Languages• Law • Mathematics • Science• Social Sciences• Sport & Fitness

Top rated modules

• An introduction to law in contemporary Scotland (W150)

• Molecules, medicine and drugs (SK185)• Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting

(B190)• Galaxies, stars and planets (S177)• Living without oil: chemistry for a sustainable

future (S176)• Volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis (S186)• Understanding the autism spectrum (SK124)

Feedback from students

*Statistics from a recent survey of YASS students from 2012/13

• 91% stated that taking a YASS module helped them to prepare for Higher Education or the workplace

• Of those who had interviews for university/college, 100% said they mentioned their YASS experience in the interview

• 100% referred to their YASS module in their UCAS personal statement

• 86% said they found the module to be suitable for their abilities

Benefits for school and students

• The YASS programme gives some schools the opportunity of offering their S6 students valuable level 7 provision in subject areas that would not otherwise be available to them

• Enriches academic profile of the school

• There is no cost to the school

Role of the School

• All participating schools must nominate a teacher to be the school co-ordinator

• Make sure the students understand the commitments of YASS and have a good understanding of the modules

• Co-ordinate and submit applications• Check students have online access and module

materials• Co-ordinators can decide how much they want

to be involved in monitoring students’ progress Monitor

Who participates in YASS?

• 2012/13 600 students from over 100 schools took a YASS module

• 90% of the schools taking part in YASS are local authority schools

• Twenty-eight of Scotland’s 32 local authorities have schools participating in YASS

• In AY 2011/12 five target schools took part in the YASS scheme. Last year this increased to 12.

Open University in Scotland and YASS

“The Open University in Scotland’s outreach strategy for widening access is based on proactive work with partners across Scotland and the use of flexible modular provision to facilitate routes into higher education that are appropriate to the individual learner”

Contact Details

Kitty ChilcottYASS Project OfficerThe Open University in Scotland 10 Drumsheugh Gardens Edinburgh EH3 7QJ

Tel: 0131 5497982

Email: kitty.chilcott@open.ac.uk