Community Engagement
and Widening Access
First Children’s University graduation
takes place in the east of Scotland
S
IXTY SCHOOL PUPILS from
across East Lothian gathered at
QMU in January, as part of the
first Children’s University graduation
ceremony to be held in the east of
Scotland.
The junior scholars were dressed head to
toe in traditional gowns and mortar boards.
Family, friends, teachers and supporters
were welcomed to the ceremony to help
celebrate the children’s achievements.
The East Lothian schools that took
part in the Queen Margaret Children’s
University graduation were Pencaitland
Primary, Yester Primary, Ross High School,
Sanderson’s Wynd Primary and Stoneyhill
Primary.
QMU is the first higher education
institution in the east of Scotland to host
the Children’s University, which aims to
help school children, between five and 14
years of age, become confident learners
and broaden their horizons.
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The initiative strives to raise children’s
aspirations, encourages them to learn
in different ways, and rewards them for
taking part in a wide variety of learning
activities outside of school hours. The
Children’s University ethos is clearly
aligned with the aims of the Scottish
Curriculum for Excellence in terms of
helping children become successful and
confident learners, responsible citizens
and effective contributors.
QMU has taken the lead in establishing
the Children’s University in the east of
Scotland, initially working in partnership
with schools via East and Midlothian
Councils.
The children build up credits the more
they engage in learning activities. They
can work towards bronze, silver and gold
certificates.
Over 1,400 pupils from across East
Lothian and Midlothian have signed up to
the Queen Margaret Children’s University
QMYOU / Community Engagement and Widening Access
scheme in 2014. One hundred of these
pupils have already achieved a minimum
30 hours of learning activities outside of
school hours, including dancing, painting,
cheer-leading, modern languages and
gardening. Each child was presented
with a special certificate at the graduation
ceremony.
Callum Maguire, Head of Outreach &
Community Engagement at QMU and
Coordinator of the Queen Margaret
Children’s University, said: “After nine
months of hard work, we’re really excited
to have now staged the first QMU
Children’s University graduation ceremony
and celebrated the pupils’ achievements.
This valuable initiative is already helping
to encourage young children across East
Lothian and Midlothian to get involved
in different methods of learning, whilst
boosting their achievement.
“We’ve always believed that children
need a range of different opportunities and