Developing the Young Workforce. The College has a well-established partnership agreement with SBC’s Education Department for the delivery of course provision for the nine Secondary schools and Wilton Centre. The College provides a range of vocational and academic subjects, which enables pupils to develop their employability skills and gain qualifications. The subject areas range from Higher Psychology, construction, motor vehicle, childcare, sport, animal care, hospitality and rural skills. There were 370 Senior Phase enrolments in 2017/18. In total, the College had 1869 CREDITs of activity in 2017/18 inclusive of provision for winter and summer leavers. The School/College partnership is reviewed annually, with several new courses offered to school pupils. The school timetables are aligned to an asymmetric week, with college courses included within the column structure. This enables pupils to select the courses as part of their timetable, particularly a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. Details of the range of programmes offered and the schools involved are in the table below. Schools Academy Programme 2019-20 Enrols Target SCQF Level Health and Social Care QMU Academy - 1 - Schools Link 14 6 Health and Social Care - Nat 5 - Schools Link 18 5 Foundation Apprenticeship - NPA Social Services and Healthcare - Schools Link 12 6 Foundation Apprenticeship - NPA SS Children & Young People YR1 - Schools Link 12 6 Foundation Apprenticeship - NPA SS Children & Young People YR2 - Schools Link 8 6 NPA : Journalism - Schools Link 12 6 NPA Laboratory Science 12 6 NPA Software Development Schools Academy - Schools Link 12 6 NQ Computing Science Schools Academy Gp2 Nat 5 - Schools Link 20 5 NPA Activity Tourism - Schools Academy - Schools Link 12 5 Foundation Apprenticeship - Business Skills 12 6 Creative Industries QMU Academy- Schools Link 12 6 Higher Sociology - Schools Link - Gala - (4 Credits) 12 6 NQ Psychology (Higher) Schools Link - Gala - (4 Credits) (Thurs) 20 6 NQ Psychology (Higher) Schools Link - Gala - (4 Credits) 25 6 NQ Psychology (Higher) Schools Link - Earlston - (4 Credits) (Fri) 28 6 Skills for Work: Early Education and Childcare Nat 4 - Schools Link1 18 4 Skills for Work: Early Education and Childcare Nat 4 - Schools Link2 18 4 Skills for Work: Early Education and Childcare Nat 4 - Schools Link2 - Hawick 18 4 Skills for Learning and Work Link - Schools Link - 1 Day 12 3 Skills for Learning and Work - Schools Link - 5 day 14 3 Skills for Independence - Schools Link - PT 5 2 VRQ 1 Hai...
Developing the Young Workforce. Context: The college continues to examine the “learner journey” in full, from the transition from school into FE or HE and further academic progression, whilst taking into account the desires and needs of the people within our region. We aim to work closely with all 16 secondary and many primary schools in our region, but the remote and rural nature of our region can present difficulties, however regular meetings between the Heads of Curriculum and DYW regional programme director take place. The college plays a key and very proactive role within our regional groups and commits significant time and resources to supporting these. Given the size of the college, it is particularly challenging to find the capacity to maintain this, particularly as all of the DYW funding is allocated to the regional group and college funding is for teaching. For example - the college meets with each secondary school or ‘cluster’ of schools on an annual basis to agree appropriate pathways and curriculum offerings. However, many of the schools request in-school delivery – quoting transport and access as a barrier – and this increases the costs to the college for staff travel and delivery to low numbers. Currently the college bears all of these costs and this is not a sustainable model going forward. Discussions are ongoing with DGC Education Services regarding a sustainable, flexible model for DYW provision. Some schools in the region have formed ‘clusters’ e.g. the North East Cluster that comprises, Annan, Lockerbie and Moffat secondary schools where vocational options and delivery are common across the schools. Some college delivery takes place in Xxxxx Academy and pupils from Moffat and Lockerbie travel to the school. This means that numbers tend to be more sustainable, pupils have the opportunity to mix with pupils from different schools and the college is then able to offer progression into full-time college programmes. However, this is not possible across the whole region. Distance and travel time are often quoted as a significant barrier – particularly for schools in the west and north of the region. What we will do: • The college is working closely with Dumfries and Xxxxxxxx Council on the Dumfries Learning Town initiative where the Council is taking forward the review of Dumfries schools, in conjunction with the wider regeneration for Dumfries. Dumfries Learning Town is an innovative approach to provide a new model of 3 to 18 education delivery. This new approach will pro...
Developing the Young Workforce. The College continues to sustain very strong strategic partnerships with its three key local authority education services. The College provides pupils in all 18 Forth Valley secondary schools (8 in Falkirk Council; 7 in the Stirling Council area; and 3 in the Clackmannanshire Council area) with the opportunity to follow vocational pathways and achieve vocational qualifications at SCQF level 5 and above as an integral part of their senior phase curriculum. The College has jointly developed its plans for Developing the Young Workforce with local authority partners and school Head Teachers and, where appropriate, with Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and employers. All three of the local authority education services, as well as the College, have put in place dedicated staff at an appropriately senior level to facilitate the planning and implementation. Across all three local authorities, we have agreed that the College will prioritise sustainable partnership activity that is open to senior phase pupils from all Forth Valley secondary schools (rather than school-specific). The College continues to work closely with all of its partners to develop and deliver vocational pathways appropriate to the widest range of senior phase school pupils possible. For young people entering S4, who are unclear about their choice of vocational area or future pathway and are deemed to be at risk of low achievement and a potential negative destination, we continue to offer the jointly delivered School College Opportunities to Succeed (SCOTS) programme for Falkirk and Stirling schools. Care experienced young people are particularly encouraged to participate in SCOTS, and over the last three years a higher than average number of students with Care experience have enrolled on these courses, compared to other courses. The programme is unique, in that all the secondary schools work in close partnership with the College to co-deliver the programme. As well as attending the College tasters, pupils are supported by their schools to undertake an employability award based around their experiences on the College programme. Successful pupils are guaranteed a place on a vocationally specific partnership course (Skills for Work or National Progression Award) the following year and then into an appropriate full-time college course when they leave school. This programme also specifically sets out to challenge gender stereotypical vocational choices, as all of the young people on the programme mu...
Developing the Young Workforce. In support of the Developing the Young Workforce strategy, we have developed partnerships with community learning and development and local schools. This has greatly supported students in transition, particularly those facing multiple barriers to learning. We have shared innovative practice with school and community colleagues. We are active members of The Developing Midlothian’s Young Work Force Committee. Our new Forest Awards will specifically target school pupils across Scotland. The awards are being piloted at level 3 with S2/3 pupils at local high schools. We currently offer a Preparation for FE course at Level 4. We are now exploring offering the course at Level 5 for delivery to local schools. We are also exploring apprenticeships with local employers in relation to Forest College programme.
Developing the Young Workforce widening access and opportunity: The UHI work -based learning hub is co-ordinating activity across the partnership developing work-based learning relating to Developing the Young Workforce. The university partnership has been awarded funding from SDS for further development of Foundation Apprenticeships for senior phase school provision and Graduate Level Apprenticeships. Within both of these programmes, we have a commitment to promoting equality and widening access. Activities around widening access include: • A planned programme of communication with schools to raise awareness, using our existing marketing and liaison channels and including key partners such as CITB, ICE and CECA. • Support for all on an individual basis to ensure they receive the necessary assistance to achieve their potential. Within this approach, particular attention will be given to any apprentices from under-represented groups and those with protected characteristics to ensure that any potential barriers are identified and addressed. • Additionally, academic partners are able to offer a wide range of support including study strategies and assessment support, scribes, assistive technology equipment, support for dyslexia and visual impairment, reasonable adjustments, flexible working/learning arrangements and support for care-experienced students. Academic partners will also work with employers to ensure appropriate support is provided throughout FA learning, not just in college-led areas. • Our current provision follows a block release pattern, which ensures apprentices from more rural locations can access the relevant underpinning knowledge. With the development of online materials, the programmes will be more accessible for apprentices from across the region and beyond. • The Graduate Level Apprenticeships will provide a natural progression pathway from related work-based learning subject areas available in both school senior phase and FE through relevant Foundation and Modern Apprenticeship programmes. This is evidenced by the fact that the two cohorts of Civil Engineering GLAs recruited so far had all previously completed the related MA. We are committed to working closely with the DYW industry-led groups within our region. Currently, boards have been established in: • Argyll and Bute • Inverness & Central Highland • Moray • North Highland • Perth and Kinross • West Highland The formation of these boards will help to ensure employer engagement in course and curriculum developmen...
Developing the Young Workforce. Developing the Young Workforce (DYW)
Developing the Young Workforce. In meeting the ambitions outlined in Developing the Young Workforce: Scotland’s Youth Employment Strategy (2014), Fife College has worked with a number of strategic partners to create capacity, focus and regional coherence to developing the young workforce in Fife. This multi-agency approach reflects a range of positive, long-established and pro-active strategic relationships. Fife Council, Fife College, SDS, local employer groups and the Fife Chamber of Commerce are all well represented on strategic planning groups, all of which are working towards a shared common goal of reducing Scotland’s youth unemployment by 40% by 2021. In order to meet this ambitious target, all strategic partners seek to work together to develop meaningful and wide ranging partnerships with the Industries central to the Fife Economy. There is a positive focus amongst strategic leaders in developing a successful local economy, increasing employment for young people, and streamlining pathways and partnerships for the benefit of all. A significant amount of groundwork has been carried out over the last two years to identify what needs to be done in response to Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) and to establish ways of reducing higher than Scottish average levels of youth unemployment in Fife. In June 2015, Fife became the third Scottish region to establish a DYW Regional Group, with representation from key education and training agencies, SDS and local employers. This group has incorporated the function of the previously established Fife Invest in Young People Group, and over the three year funding period, will integrate the strands of the Opportunities Fife Partnership, which focuses specifically on developing a skilled workforce for the future by tackling barriers to employability, and that of the Fife Economy Partnership, which has responsibility for wider economic development in Fife and draws the majority of its membership from private sector employers. The remit of the Regional Group is to promote productive links between education providers and employers, including the large number of SMEs and micro-businesses in the region. DYW Board Opportunities
Developing the Young Workforce. Scotland’s Youth Employment Strategy The Dundee and Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx the Young Workforce Team were appointed in June 2016 to support the implementation of the Scottish Government’s Youth Employment Strategy. Developing the Young Workforce - Scotland's Youth Employment Strategy, published on 17th December 2014, sets out how the Scottish Government will implement the recommendations from the Commission for Developing Scotland's Young Workforce, established in response to recommendations from Xxx Xxx Xxxx to drive the creation of a world class vocational educational system to reduce youth unemployment by 40% by 2021. The College welcomed publication of the report and strategy and has played a key role in supporting the creation of the local DYW Board to lead developments and create an environment where all of the young people within our region have clear, effective and innovative opportunities to develop the skills, ethos and understanding necessary to attain positive careers and impact on local economic growth. The vision and key objective of the DYW board (supported fully by the College) is as follows.
Developing the Young Workforce. The Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) implementation programme is a seven year long programme to deliver the policy agenda of the Scottish Government in relation to increasing the employment prospects of the young workforce. DYW recommendations are clear for colleges. The main aim is to ensure that all young people have the opportunity to engage in purposeful and directly work related learning while at school, building on the strong school-college partnerships that already exist across the country. The challenge is to extend that offer to all young people, and to create a climate where young people, their parents, teachers and practitioners value – and demand – a range of routes into good jobs and careers, whether that is through our universities, colleges, apprenticeships or training provision. Colleges, as Scotland’s primary providers of vocational education, will have a central role in supporting delivery of this national programme. A genuine, long-term partnership approach between schools, colleges, training providers, employers, parents and young people themselves is central to the success of this agenda. It is only through a partnership approach we will widen the range of options available to young people and support them to make the most appropriate choices for their futures. Our objective is a world-class system of vocational education, in which colleges work with schools and employers to deliver learning that is directly relevant to getting a job, as a mainstream option for all pupils in the senior phase of secondary school. The Regional Outcome Agreement guidance sets specific targets for colleges in relation to delivering DYW. These themes include: Young people able to access more vocational options during the senior phase of secondary school, which deliver routes into good jobs and careers, developed through effective partnership between schools, colleges, local authorities and other partners Improving opportunities and experiences for all learners, with a focus on reducing gender imbalance on course take-up Provision aligned with economic needs and regional planning, with a focus on STEM where appropriate Further developing college outcome agreements to underpin improvements and measure progress Modern Apprenticeships focused on higher level skills and industry needs More employers engaging with education and recruiting more young people Advancing Equalities The three Glasgow colleges are working closely with local authority p...
Developing the Young Workforce. In response to Developing the Young Workforce, we have extended partnerships with community learning and development and local schools, particularly in relation to Rural Skills. These part-time courses offers progression to our full-time NC Rural Skills Course. This has greatly supported student transition, particularly those facing multiple barriers to learning. We have shared innovative practice with school and community colleagues. We are active members of The Developing Midlothian’s Young Work Force Committee and our Preparation for FE Course (SCQF Level 4) is particularly relevant to younger learners. We are now exploring SCQF Level 5 Work-Based Qualification with SRUC. Our new Forest and Outdoor Learning Awards target school pupils across Scotland. The awards have been piloted at level 3 with S2/3 pupils at local high schools. We are now running 7 pilots across Scotland, involving schools and local organisations. The pilots include 3 high schools: Dalkeith High School; St David’s High School, Dalkeith and St Columba’s High School, Dunfermline. Fr om January 2019, the FOLAs will be recognised on t he Insight Tool, which will significantly extend their appeal to high schools across Scotland. We are also exploring apprenticeships with local employers in relation to our Forest College programme and exploring a w ork-based SCQF Level 5 Rural Skills apprenticeship with SRUC. Senior Phase The college is an active partner with both Midlothian and East Lothian CPP groups. We will continue to offer vocational pathways for senior phase pupils in part-time and full- time NC Rural Skills courses, NC Celtic Studies and HNC Social Sciences. Forest and Outdoor Learning Awards at SCQF levels 2-8 are available to young people and adults. We are also exploring Modern Apprenticeships with SRUC and will offer a M usic Transition course in partnership with Midlothian high schools and E dinburgh Xxxxxx University. Curriculum Planning and Review We involve a r ange of stakeholders and pa rtners in planning and reviewing our curriculum. These include colleagues in FE, HE, voluntary organisations, schools and local authorities. The value of this is reflected in our successful HNC partnership with QMU and i n our Preparation for FE Course with Midlothian Council. All teaching staff engage fully in this process and involve students through an effective quality cycle. 88% of students who completed the SSES agreed that staff regularly discussed progress with them. In response...
