Developing the young workforce in Oban High School

Actor Background In 2008 Oban High School’s senior phase (S5/6) programme focused almost exclusively on the provision of Highers with a few bi-level options where necessary, despite the high stay on rate. Vocational education was a strategy centered on those pupils who were likely to leave at the end of S4 or were forced to stay on as Christmas leavers. The agreement with our local further education partner, Argyll College, provided that they would run Skills for Work courses for S3 and S4, most of whom chosen or were placed on these courses because of their desire to leave school at the end of S4. Every S4 pupil experienced one week of Work Experience. This was not an uncommon story across the country. What was uncommon was that up to 40% of our youngsters went straight into employment after school.

Vision With a community that has a wealth of opportunity arising from almost full employment, it was clear a change in direction was necessary. Through consultation a new vision was established by the end of the session; a vision that stressed the importance of recognising vocational success as highly as academic success. The first task was to move all the Skills for Work courses out of the junior school and into the S5/6 curriculum, alongside an insistence that each academic subject must offer two levels of each senior phase course. The establishment of a full time Guidance system allowing for more one to one time with pupils ensured Guidance teachers could now work more closely with the Careers Advisors in SDS, local employers and local employment agencies to ensure that pupils received tailored support unique to them and not just based on a norm referenced matrix.

Pathways Programme “Pathways” is open to all S6 pupils who wish to choose it, appropriate S5 pupils (those that are leaving at the end of S5) and targeted S4 pupils (those that are leaving at the end of S4). We now have around 90 possible placements and around 80 pupils taking up the opportunities on offer. Each community partner has been health and safety checked and receive regular contact from the school. The success of this initiative is only possible because of the generosity of the community partners and because we employee a full time Post 16 Teacher to ensure that all pupils/placements/associated academic work is all on track. The basic premise is that pupils select an extended work experience placement which is linked to the career aspirations and pathway they have planned when they leave school and they attend this placement for at least a double period each week throughout the academic year.

Providers (a small selection) Achnalrig Riding School Animal Care Alzheimer Scotland Health Ardoran Marine Marine Engineering Argyll Argricultural Engineers Agricultural Engineering Argyll Commericals Mechanical Engineering Caley Fisheries Ltd. Fisheries Dept. Work & Pensions Administration Dunollie House Museum and Culture Dunstaffanage Marina Marine Engineering First Steps Nursery Childcare Glencruitten Golf Club Greenkeeping Hope Kitchen Adult Care J C Electrical Electrical installation Jim Boys Pumbing installation Kilbowie Centre Outdoor Education Matrix Computing Computing Morham & Brotchie Quantity Surveying Scottish Association for Marine Science Research * Various Primary schools; hotels; restaurants and hairdressers.

Qualification Name Qualification Provider Qualification Level Number of Resulted Entries Number of Passes Number in Base Cohort Safe Road User Award Scottish Qualifications Authority SCQF Level 4 17 404 Award in Customer Service: Principles and Practices SCQF Level 5 84 Award in Volunteering Skills 12 Scottish Studies Award 2 Wellbeing Award 26 Award in Religion, Belief and Values SCQF Level 6 4 Leadership Award 25 Personal Development Award 1 Scots Language Award 31 18   203 190  94% pass Insight warning 406 pupil awards can’t be verified through Insight or SQA data, these are wide ranging, and include Saltire, Duke of Edinburgh and a variety of sporting qualifications.

Starting in the BGE We are currently using a skills based software programme called Didbook. We use this alongside all 19 of our Partner Primary Schools. Didbook allows pupils to record and share their achievements; set targets and aspirations; and reflect on their progress in developing a whole range of skills Every teacher in every class is now expected to share the skills that can be developed within that lesson to help the pupils see the relevance of what they are learning with not only their discreet subjects but with life and work after school. They consolidate this once a week. However more importantly the identification of skills and successes help the pupils to have a far clearer idea of what subjects and courses they should choose for their individual career pathway.

Next Steps Top Tip… More engagement with the business community. Get a pipe band and agree to play at any event your local community and/or business partners need you at. If you can support them and bring them good PR, they in turn will support you and your youngsters.