Developing Scotlands Young Workforce Senior phase choices Developing Scotlands Young Workforce Good evening, for this part of the evening I would like to give you an outline of some of the new features included in the senior phase choices this year- I am Joined for this session by Dorothee Leslie from Dundee & Angus College who will be providing some information on progression routes involving vocational qualifications such as HNC/HNDs   The new options available to pupils in the senior phase are linked to the key recommendations identified in the Wood Report. This was commissioned by the government and aims to ensure that pupils at school have the opportunity to : access a wider range of qualifications including vocational qualifications develop key employability skills and Improve their awareness and understanding of industry Central to this is the notion of developing employability- it aims to ensure that pupils can access the labour market with the skills and range of qualifications sought by potential employers

Employability Degree route doesn’t guarantee employability Almost half our pupils don’t go onto university Other (non traditional) routes to degree level courses Employability skills and vocational qualifications support access to degrees Some employers prefer vocational qualifications over academic Employers highlighting 21st Century skills (soft skills) There are a number of contexts for these developments, one is the significant changes in the labour market & another is feedback from employers.  We currently have high levels of youth unemployment at the same time that employers are unable to fill vacancies and skills shortages exist. This has led to a review of how we are preparing pupils   What has been seen as the traditional route- pupils moving into S5/6 and taking Highers and then moving onto University, is no longer the guarantee that it might have been the past. (Graduates working in low skilled, low paid employment) Almost half our pupils don’t follow the university route and therefore other options than accumulating academic qualifications might be more appropriate. Pupils can now access degree level courses through routes other than the traditional academic highers which may be more appropriate- or more successful given potential cut backs in the university sector and funding arrangements for these courses. The academic route is definitely the best option for some pupils.  But even for those pupils who wish to follow that route, having only academic qualifications from school alone may not be enough, for example almost all applicants applying for medicine will probably have achieved 5 As at Higher but may require other vocationally based experiences such as relevant work placements to enhance their personal statements and secure an interview.  Some employers would prefer to recruit through a more vocational route- feel recruits more suited to their needs  Employer are increasingly highlighting the importance of what are referred to as 21st century skills or soft skills as major factor in their recruitment processes.   As a result, we are aiming to enhance the employability of pupils as they progress through the senior phase. This will involve new options for pupils, the possibility for pupils to take vocational or skills based options as well as academic qualifications and will involve partnerships with employers, colleges, universities and other agencies and organisations.   This may mean pupils in S4/5/6 have learning experiences in school, at college, on work placement and could involve working with college or university lecturers, employers, other agencies and college or university students. As a result this will provide a wider range of choices and a more personalised curriculum which offers greater relevance for a wider range of pupils than traditional model.   So what does this look like?

Options for Senior Phase ’Traditional’ qualifications College links options Skills for Work courses Employability transition program (s4) NPA employability focused courses Industry certification Apprenticeship pathways HNC options- timetabled HNC options – infill Flexible work placements These are the range of options available at different stages of S4/5/6   We have Traditional qualification- are nat5 higher etc We offer college link options for last few years Skills for work courses – as well as content cover key employability skills- main options are tourism and hospitality and early education and child care These have been the basic options in S4-6- all the other option are the newer options for pupils, Employability program aimed at developing employability skills, providing vocational certification and developing career management skills- mainly for pupils already working with kick it kick of project New set of qualifications NPA- more focused on career standards for specific industries We plan to offer industry standard certification that would enable pupils who gain these to access employment directly We are also offering apprenticeship pathways to secure full time apprenticeships in a number of areas Finally offering more vocational courses such as HNC directly related to particular careers Almost all of these options fit within the SCQF framework and can see how compare to traditional academic subjects, information on these can be found in the course choice booklet

Id like to highlight some of these options   This year we will be offering NPAs in computer games design and cyber security- both areas of significant potential growth in the labour amrket Dundee has an established reputation already in the computer games industry All the indications are that cyber security will be a massive area for job growth- already significant financial rewards These are not limited to pupils with backgrounds in computing- they give for example pupils with skills in art and music an opportunity to deploy these skills in a vocational context These courses also focus not just on the content but how they will be delivered- we have already established link with universities and college and we anticipate pupils working with university and colleges, other students and also employers

All the indications are that cyber security will be a massive area for job growth- already significant financial rewards   These are not limited to pupils with backgrounds in computing- they give for example pupils with skills in art and music an opportunity to deploy these skills in a vocational context These courses also focus not just on the content but how they will be delivered- we have already established link with universities and college and we anticipate pupils working with university and colleges, other students and also employers

Industry qualifications Life Guard Qualification The National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) is the most widely recognized lifeguard qualification in the UK & Ireland. On successful completion of the course you will be fully qualified to work as a Pool Lifeguard. Fitness Instructor Qualification This qualification will provide entry onto the Register of Exercise Professionals at Level 2 and can be achieved in the context of gym A second new feature is industry qualifications We will offer the opportunity for pupils to qualify as lifeguards and fitness instructors-as you can see with these you can move directly into employment

Apprenticeship pathways Electrical & Plumbing Finance Engineering Health and Social Care Digital / IT The next option is the apprenticeship pathways; we hope to offer 5 options, the first two have been confirmed, we recently held a parents information evening for the electrical plumbing route. We are awaiting further information on the o0ther options that are in the process of being finalised in conjunction with SDS and D&A college. This route provides opportunties to access full time apprenticeship for pupils at school and also gain valuable workplace experience.

Electrical & Plumbing pathway Pathways in 2 areas: Plumber and Electrician 2 days per week in school 2 days per week at Dundee & Angus College 1 day per week on placement with employer Partnership between Grove Academy, Dundee & Angus College, National Training Federations, local employers If we take the plumbing/electrical pathway as an example; pupils involved in the apprenticeship program in electrical and plumbing would spend- Go through slide

Electrical & Plumbing pathway 3 school subjects- ie English, Maths, Practical Electronics Vocational qualifications (NPA awards level 5) SECCT test (electricians), BPEC award CSCS card Development of key workplace skills Key knowledge & understanding and technical skills Experience with employers Greater understanding of industry and apprenticeships These are the outcomes they would achieve; Go through slide A blended approach that allows academic, vocational and industry certification, allowing pupils to develop skills and understanding- someone with this range of qualifications and skills would stand a much better chance of moving into these careers rather than someone with a range of traditional academic subjects- this has been bourne out by experience At this point I would like to introduce dorothee leslie from Dundee & Angus college who will provide some more detailed information on the benefits of the HNC/HND routes.

HNC timetabled options HNC Civil Engineering HNC Building Surveying HNC Computing Finally some information on HNC options. We are going to offer two approaches. Our timetabled option will allow pupils in S5 to complete an HNC over 2 years whilst at school. HNC is equalvalent to an advanced higher These are more career specific courses which offer a range of progression options. The first two have recently planned with college staff in areas where there are currently skills shortages and offer direct progression onto university courses and into employment.

HNC infill options Join existing college courses Dependent on spaces Extraction from normal school timetable The college have offered our pupils the opportunity to join HNC courses being delivered at college where space allows. This could allow pupils to gain additional vocational and specialist qualifications whilst at school. If pupils were interested they would be extracted from the relevant periods in the timetable to attend these courses at college. This would obviously depend on spaces being available.   At this point I would like to introduce dorothee leslie from Dundee & Angus college who will provide some more detailed information on the benefits of the HNC/HND routes.

Employability- blended learning Academic qualifications Vocational qualifications 21st century skills (soft skills) Awareness and understanding of industry Career management skills Overall these developments in the senior phase seek to enhance the employability options for pupils, providing opportunities to gain academic qualifications vocational qualifications and industry certification and allowing pupils to develop key skills and extending understanding of specific careers and of industry to prepare pupils for the transition to the labour market   Increasingly the norm for pupils in S4/5/6 as we further develop this approach will be pupils in the senior phase learning in school, at college , in the workplace- working with teachers, lecturers, employers, training agencies and other students

Developing employer links Andy.creamer@dundeecity.gov.uk 01382 436800 Before I pass you over to mrs macintosh we are looking to engage employers and develop links in as many areas as possible.