Gairloch High School

Our Senior Phase courses give you access to a wide range of subjects, helping you build skills, confidence, and employability while still at school. With a mix of on-campus and online learning, taught by industry-experienced lecturers, you’ll experience college and university learning and get a head start on your future.

Want to know what studying through Senior Phase is really like? Read our student stories.

Applications for senior phase courses are now closed and will reopen in January 2027.

If you have any questions about our courses, our Schools Team is here to help.

Explore our courses

Face-to-face: Delivered in college or school

Horse Care Units SCQF 4 - 6

Duration: One academic year
Locations
- Benbecula - Thursday 1300 - 1500
- Castle View Stables - Friday 0900 - 1200
- Gairloch - Friday 0930 - 1230
- North Ballachulish - Friday 1000 - 1200

This course is designed for school pupils who enjoy working with horses and want to develop practical horse care skills alongside their school studies.

You will take part in hands on sessions at an approved equestrian centre, where you will learn about the day-to-day care of horses and how to work safely and responsibly around them. The course covers a range of horse care activities, allowing you to build skills at a level that matches your experience and ability.

This course forms part of the wider NC Horse Care qualification and gives you a realistic introduction to horse care in a working equestrian environment.

Course content

Units studied will depend on your experience, progress and the facilities available at your chosen location, but you may cover a range of topics including:

Horse identification and handling a quiet horse safely
Assist with grooming a quiet horse
Tack and tacking up
Stable routine
Horse health
Watering and feeding
Tacking up for ridden competition work
Horse care: lunging
Horse care: trimming, turnout and clipping

Entry requirements

You must demonstrate a keen interest in equestrian studies and have a satisfactory reference.

What next

This course can support progression to further study in horse care or equestrian subjects, including full-time or flexible study programmes offered by UHI. It can also help you build experience and confidence if you are considering future training, apprenticeships or work in the equine sector, depending on your wider qualifications and experience.

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HNC Equine Studies Units SCQF 7

Duration: One academic year
- Where: Gairloch, Friday 0930 - 1230
- Where: Castle View Stables, Wick, Friday 0900 - 1200

This provides an introduction to the equine industry and gives students the opportunity to explore the different types of equine businesses, learn about horse care and management, and develop skills in observation and assessment of horses. It is designed to give a solid foundation for those interested in progressing onto the BA (Hons) Equine Business Management degree or other equine-related study.

Course content

This module covers the scope and scale of the equine industry, looking at a variety of equine businesses. In addition, students will be given a project horse and will present their findings on the horse and what disciplines it may be suitable for. Areas covered during the module are:

Breeds of horses
Conformation
Tack and equipment
Equid requirements over a variety of Disciplines
General Industry requirements
Specific requirements and knowledge for stud and competition yards

Entry requirements

3 Highers at grade C or above (or equivalent).

What next

After completing this course, students can progress onto the first year of the BA (Hons) Equine Business Management degree programme. It also provides a foundation for other further education courses or apprenticeships in the equine industry, giving an understanding of horse care, management, and industry practices that can support a range of career paths.

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Foundation Apprenticeships

Online: National 4 & SCQF 4 courses

Online: National 5 & SCQF 5 courses

NPA Maritime Studies SCQF 5

Duration: One academic year
Where: Online (e-Sgoil)
When: Monday 9.40 am - 11.35 am; Wednesday 10.45 am - 12.25 pm and Friday 11.35 am - 1.15 pm

This course gives you the chance to explore the maritime industry through a practical and vocational programme alongside your school studies. It is designed for pupils who want to learn more about life and work at sea, and to help you decide whether the maritime sector could be a future career or progression route.

You will learn about the maritime environment, how vessels operate, and the roles and responsibilities involved in working safely at sea. The course gives a realistic introduction to the industry and the types of skills and knowledge it involves.

This course helps you explore maritime studies and make informed decisions about future study or work.

Course content

You will develop knowledge and understanding of the maritime industry and the nautical environment, alongside an introduction to key maritime skills.

Mandatory units focus on core areas of maritime study, including basic navigational watchkeeping, an overview of the maritime sector, and the principles behind vessel construction and stability. You will also explore ropework, anchoring and mooring, helping you understand how these skills are used on board vessels.

An optional unit allows you to develop more specialised knowledge, with a focus on health and safety and the procedures involved in securing a vessel for safe passage.

Entry requirements

You should be able to work at SCQF level 5. Applicants should have an interest in the subject and be committed to completing the course.

What next

This course can support progression to further study or training in maritime-related subjects, including locally delivered further education programmes. It may also help prepare you for entry-level opportunities or apprenticeships within the maritime or aquaculture sectors, depending on your wider qualifications and experience.

APPLY

Online: Highers & SCQF 6 courses

Online: Degree modules & SCQF 7 courses

Online Courses with UHI Inverness

If you have any questions regarding the online courses in this section, please email: schools.ic@uhi.ac.uk