PINS Theme: More Choices More Chances
NEW - Call for employability skills gets louder
In an increasingly competitive market for jobs and higher courses of study, all-round achievement rather than mere attainment is at a premium – special feature in the TESS. More HERE
NEW - Minister sets out priorities for youth employment
Training schemes, Modern Apprenticeships, college courses, university degrees – there are many routes into employment in Scotland but sadly too many young people fail to find their way into one of them. More HERE
Vocational Education in the Lower Secondary School: a Case Study of North Lanarkshire Schools
The research found that vocational subjects, when offered within a mixed curriculum, can motivate and engage pupils in work-related learning activities. Work-related learning was often perceived by young people as meaningful, when set within an educational context and taught by teachers with relevant occupational experience of the subject area. A number of generic qualities were being developed through the vocational subjects, such as teamwork, communication, self-confidence, and literacy and numeracy. One of the major unexpected outcomes of the study was the degree to which this provision can lead to under-achieving pupils being retained within the upper secondary school, lessening the likelihood of non-positive outcomes for these individuals. Download the pdf doc
HERE
Local action to tackle child poverty
This resource will support the development and implementation of Scotland's Strategy for Child Poverty. The aim is to provide a single point of reference to assist those involved in tackling child poverty locally throughout Scotland. More HERE
Putting Learners at the Centre – Delivering our Ambitions for Post-16 Education
The Scottish Government has brought forward detailed proposals for a reform programme for the whole of post-16 education in Scotland. Written responses should be submitted by Friday 23rd December 2011. More HERE
Coalyard transition project: providing stepping stones to employment for young people with learning disabilities
The project offers support and skills development to young people who are making the transition into employment, training or further education. More HERE
The Way to Work: Young People Speak Out on Transitions to Employment
Reports on the experiences of young people in their education and employment transitions in the UK. Presents case studies of 12 UK-based programmes of innovative approaches. Download the PDF HERE
Review of how well colleges are preparing learners for work or further study
Education Scotland reportson both strengths and weaknesses in the work that colleges do to prepare learners for work or further study after they finish their current programmes. Download the PDF HERE
Flexible Learning: supporting transitions for young people with additional support needs
Every year the project supports 50 young people from S4 and S5 and in mainstream schools by identifying their needs and providing each with an individual package of support. More HERE
Review of vocational education
The review argues that the post-16 education and vocational training arrangements should be strengthened and better integrated with other parts of the education and employment systems. The report provides a number of specific recommendations aimed at improving education and training for the work-place, providing better value for money and improving support for unemployed young people. More HERE
Skills Development Scotland Summer 2011 Stakeholder Briefings
The briefings contain articles about the web service 'My World of Work', the Gaelic Language Plan and Service Delivery Agreements. They also highlight plans to promote the 25,000 publicly funded Modern Apprentice (MA) places in 2011/12. The local authority editions contain local information, including a case study and an update from the SDS local Area Manager. More HERE
Employability skills put in the spotlight
A DVD resource to show young people the connection between school subjects, gaining skills and applying these to jobs, has been launched by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). SQA has developed the DVD on Employability for Young People working with the teachers and pupils of Hillpark Secondary School in Glasgow and Newbattle Community High School in Midlothian. More HERE
Stirling Council Learners’ Survey 2011
Learners in Stirling have been giving their views about literacy and numeracy classes in the area. The survey took place during literacies classes organised by Forth Valley College, Stirling Council Youth Services, Adult Learning Team and HMP Cornton Vale and Carnegie College. The survey found that learning had an impact at work, in the community, with home and family and in their personal lives. Copies of the report from the Adult Learning Team adultlearning@stirling.gov.uk
Planning for the senior phase: Where do I start?
This presents five models of how senior phase education might look. More HERE
New online service: my World of Work
Skills Development Scotland continues to develop its online web service My World of Work: connecting the way that people live, learn and work and assisting them in making the best possible career decisions. My WoW will replace the Careers Scotland website. Containing all the essential careers information held on the Careers Scotland website, it also has many more new features and tools to create a more personalised experience to help find work, develop careers and make learning choices. Go HERE
SCQF Schools Toolkit
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership (SCQFP) is launching a Schools Toolkit for use by those delivering learning in schools and the broader learning community. Created in partnership with Skills Development Scotland (SDS), the toolkit will assist schools and learning communities in understanding how the Framework supports Curriculum for Excellence and the recognition of achievement for young people. Go HERE
School leaver destinations
This PDF report concentrates on the destinations of school leavers in 2009/10. Go HERE
The Awards Network in Scotland
The Network is a forum of twenty one providers of non-formal learning Awards in Scotland; working to raise awareness of the variety of Awards available to young people aged 12 to 25. In response to an independent review of how the Awards Network could improve its services, the network has developed a new website. Go HERE
Scotland’s Colleges MCMC Toolkit
The MCMC Toolkit is intended to support colleges in identifying, sharing and developing effective practice in relation to the More Choices, More Chances (MCMC) agenda. The toolkit includes resources and information relating to potential barriers to learning for disengaged and disaffected young people, a range of safe, fun and non-threatening induction activities that focus on individual development planning. See the toolkit HERE
Some key information and documents that relate to More Choices, More Chances
16+ Learning Choices key messages
Part of the senior phase of Curriculum for Excellence 16+ Learning Choices is a guaranteed offer of a place in post16 learning for every eligible young person who wants it. This is to be delivered across 32 local authority based partnerships.
To find out more about 16+ Learning Choices click below
- 16+ Learning Choices is a guaranteed offer of a place in post-16 learning for every eligible young person who wants it.
- It is an integral part of Curriculum for Excellence and is central to facilitating delivery of the national indicator for positive and sustained post-16 destinations.
- 16+ Learning Choices is the model for helping young people stay in learning post-16, since this is the best way to ensure their long term employability. It will help build capacity in individuals, families and communities; and will support economic growth in Scotland. Critically, it will help prevent and reduce youth unemployment.
- By December 2010 16+ Learning Choices will be a universal model for all young people – generally those aged 15-18 – leaving any episode of learning, regardless of setting and including compulsory education, during the Senior Phase of Curriculum for Excellence.
- For young people, 16+ Learning Choices will translate into an offer of post-16 learning well in advance of their school leaving date and before leaving any subsequent episode of learning during the Senior Phase. In line with Curriculum for Excellence, the offer of learning will focus on personalisation and choice, reflecting individuals’ needs and aspirations. Importantly it will encompass relevant supports to help young people make effective learning choices; and to progress on the path of lifelong learning.
- 16+ Learning Choices is for every young person and gives particular attention to those who are at risk of moving into a negative destination. Effective delivery, therefore, requires building on wider activity to support young people needing more choices and chances, embracing the principles and practice around Getting It Right For Every Child and the Additional Support for Learning Act.
- From all partners, it demands multi-agency collaboration, with robust systems and shared processes to provide the right learning and support for all young people; and with ongoing tracking and monitoring of individuals, so they can access, sustain and progress in their learning choice.
16+ Learning Choices: Policy and Practice Framework
This is the key document which describes the delivery of the Scottish Government's guaranteed offer of post-16 learning to every young person in the Senior Phase of Curriculum for Excellence. 16+ Learning Choices must be rolled out across Scotland by December 2010. To download the PDF document go HERE
16+ Learning Choices National Network
Learning and Teaching Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Government and local authority colleagues, has established a 16+ Learning Choices National Network.
To find out who sits on the network in your local authority area and explore how you can get involved contact Bryan Campbell Development Officer MCMC at: B.Campbell@LTScotland.org.uk
Case studies of flexible learning and support packages for young people who require more choices and more chances
The case studies present good practice that is characterised by being learner-centred, accessible, participative, engaging, flexible, relevant and credible to young people. To download the PDF document go HERE
Scottish Qualifications Authority and the MCMC agenda
SQA is the national accreditation and awarding body in Scotland. SQA believes that all learners should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. SQA web pages show how qualifications can be used to offer more choices and opportunities for those vulnerable, disengaged and hard-to-reach young people who may need more support. For more go HERE
