Young Strathclyder is a programme of long-term sustained contact and support for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds throughout their compulsory schooling and is designed to raise awareness of higher education, support attainment, and offer learning opportunities.

Supported by Strathclyde student mentors, pupils participate in a range of engaging and interactive educational activities, helping them to build a sense of belonging and confidence within a Higher Education setting and to maintain a focus on their post-school goals through advice and guidance on subject choices and career opportunities.

There are three main stages of the programme:

Young Strathclyder: Primary

Working with P5 to P7 and taking place in-school and on-campus, the Young Strathclyder Primary programme involves pupils completing interactive activities based on each of Strathclyde’s four faculties. After completing the programme, P7 pupils and their parents/guardians are invited to a Graduation ceremony at the Barony Hall on the Strathclyde campus.

Over 3,500 pupils have taken part in the Young Strathclyder Primary programme since it began in 2022. The programme is currently working with 17 schools in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire. 

Young Strathclyder: Secondary 

The Young Strathclyder Secondary programme is designed to support pupils in making their subject option choices by allowing them to find out more about how school subjects relate to University courses and careers. The programme is currently working with 20 high schools in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire. 30 S2 pupils from each school, selected according to widening access criteria, attend the Strathclyde campus for a day, taking part in activities that offer them an in-depth look at University while allowing them to focus specifically on academic areas they might want to study and plot their route into these and potential future careers.

Young Strathclyder: Accelerate

Accelerate is a week-long programme for pupils who will move into S5 or S6 just before summer to find out more about specific University subject areas that they might be interested in going on to study. 

Find out more about Accelerate.

If you would like to find out more about the Young Strathclyder programme, please contact young-strathclyder@strath.ac.uk