Caithness senior pupils get access to wide range of UHI courses
Senior pupils in Caithness are being given the opportunity to expand their subject choice while still at school thanks to a tie-in with the University of the Highlands and Islands.
UHI North, West and Hebrides offers a range of qualifications including Foundation Apprenticeships, Highers, degree modules, and vocational courses, with subjects ranging from aquaculture to cyber security and from hairdressing to humanities.
Applications have now opened for senior phase courses at the college, which includes the former North Highland College at Thurso, with pupils in S4, S5 and S6 across the Highland Council area able to choose subjects as part of their timetable.
By providing school pupils with a wider range of qualifications and subjects to choose from, the offer gives pupils the skills, confidence and experience they need to take the next step towards further study or employment, according to UHI.
Adam Robertson, who leads the senior phase programme at UHI North, West and Hebrides, said: “Our senior phase courses mean that young people have more options to achieve valuable qualifications by studying with college whilst still at school.
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“The partnership we have with Highland Council, and our colleagues in UHI Inverness, provides a common timetable across Highland region to give pupils from even the smallest schools, as well as children that are home schooled, access to subjects such as Advanced Higher Computing.
“We’re particularly proud of the range of vocational subjects such as the Foundation Apprenticeships, giving pupils not only a valuable qualification but also helping them to gain work experience along the way.”
Delivered by college lecturers in partnership with Highland Council, each school has a tailored selection of courses to choose from. Some are delivered face-to-face on campus, or in school, and others are delivered online in a virtual classroom, with pupils joining peers from across the region to study.
The award-winning Virtual Schools timetable aligns with the Highland Council options form which pupils use to pick their subject choices, ensuring full access to all senior phase pupils in the Highland Council region.
The college also provide learning and progression opportunities for home-educated students.
For more information and to explore senior phase courses starting in August 2025, visit www.nwh.uhi.ac.uk/en/schools