To celebrate the students’ achievements, a celebration was held at Edinburgh University’s Teviot Row House. Guests included, family and friends, teachers and university professors. Dr Neil Speirs director of the programme, introduced each of the Head Teachers. Mr Paterson, spoke of the encouragement and inspiration our youngsters had received from the staff at the university.

The Botanic Gardens – creating plant prints

The Botanic Gardens – uncovering Charles Darwin’s plant samples

Surgeons Hall – lab work

Students at Surgeons Hall – surgeons

The pupils from all three schools delivered presentations about their experiences at the various university faculties. WHEC gave two presentations; the first on their visit to Surgeons Hall where a spot of drama took place as the pupils dressed up as modern day surgeons! WHEC pupils also discussed their visit to the Botanic Gardens where they handled plant and seed specimens collected by Charles Darwin, nearly two hundred years ago!

Edinburgh University Health and Fitness Faculty – how high can you jump?

Edinburgh University Health and Fitness Faculty – how much strength do you have?

Edinburgh University Health and Fitness Faculty – punch harder!

Along with S1 pupils from Liberton High and Leith Academy, our own S1 pupils have been attending Edinburgh University’s Widening Participation programme – every Friday afternoon throughout this summer term. This large group of youngsters visited many university faculties over the weeks, including the Faculty of Vets, Modern Languages, Art History, Medicine, Fitness and Sport.

Scottish Parliament Leith Academy, Liberton High School and WHEC, working together

Scottish Parliament Debating Chamber

Lloyds Bank sponsors the university’s widening participation programme to encourage less confident, bright, young people to apply to university when they leave school. Over the past three years Lloyds have donated over £1,000 to our school library. The pupils from the programme are tasked with visiting Waterstones Bookshop to select the new library books.

Edinburgh University family invite to Widening Participation celebration evening

WHEC students, teachers, parents and families attend Widening Participation celebration at Teviot Row House, Edinburgh University