​In order to provide the best possible pathways for learners, Craigroyston Community High School has fully embraced the DYW agenda and designed a twenty-first century curriculum for learning, life and work - providing all leaners with the opportunity to explore career pathways leading to positive and sustained destinations. It supports professional reflections around the Career Education and Work Placements Standards as well as School / Employer Partnerships.

How to use this exemplar

This exemplar aims to inspire reflective thinking by practitioners engaged in curriculum development. You are invited to use this exemplar to reflect on the following questions:

• In what ways does the curriculum provision and timetabling in your establishment incorporate career education for all learners?
• To what extend are partners involved in delivering meaningful, work related experiences for learners, the delivery of skills and qualifications as well as prospective career opportunities?

Explore this exemplar

What was done?

Headteacher Steve Ross placed a strong emphasis on employability when redesigning the curriculum to meet the needs of all learners. The school vision includes the following statement:

“The school will ensure every young person leaves Craigroyston at the end of S6 with a portfolio of qualifications, skills, experiences and a knowledge of the job market so that they can enter a sustained, positive destination of further/higher education, apprenticeship or employment.”

This vision is underpinned by a culture of high aspirations and fostering a ‘can do’ attitude that both staff and pupils buy into.

In order to enhance learners’ employability and career management skills, the senior phase timetable allows learners to select from a wide range of work related courses to work in industry, undertake apprenticeships or employment. On successful completion of their placements, the pupils go on to a guaranteed full-time Modern Apprenticeship with their prospective employer. This unique partnership between Craigroyston CHS and a number of local employers from across the city has received special recognition from the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

What was the impact?

• sustained positive destinations for all learners in our school community
• employment opportunities for our students using our associated business partners
• provide equality and equity for all learners
• businesses seek to engage and sustain employees: historically businesses lose younger staff only to try to replace them, this provides a year-long introduction with support measures in place to prevent drop out

Additional materials

Watch the videos on YouTube to hear staff and pupils talk about the structure, content and impact of the school’s approach to career education.

Clip 1: Developing Skills to realise aspirations
Clip 2: Pre-Apprenticeship Programme: Planning and implementation

Downloads

Word file: Craigroyston Community High School (58 KB)

PDF file: Curriculum rationale (230 KB)

PDF file: Learner review sheet (80 KB)

PDF file: Senior courses (38 KB)

PowerPoint presentation: Steve Ross - Reflections of a Headteacher (253 KB)