A collaborative approach to trackin acheivement with a focus on skills in Alva Academy

The pilot was facilitated by Community Learning and Development (CLD) Officers in Education Scotland in partnership with YouthLink Scotland. This pilot trialled the National Youth Work Outcomes & Skills Framework across a school learning community as a tool to support the measurement, development and understanding of skills and to build a common language to recognise and track young people’s achievements. It came as a result of the Forth Valley and West Lothian Achievement project which conducted research in the region surrounding personal achievements.

A young person-centred process was facilitated by teachers and youth workers who deliver opportunities for personal achievement through a range of groups and activities in the school and community.  This report details the pilot process over the academic year 2023/24. It outlines the key findings as well as the methodology, data and insights from practitioners and young people.

The pilot aimed to utilise the framework to help young people understand and articulate their skills while establishing a shared language around skills across the learning community. It also looked to build a comprehensive view of young people’s personal achievements over the academic year and map the skills developed through this non-formal learning.

The framework provided the scaffolding for this approach which was underpinned by CLD values and principles throughout.  The framework was developed by YouthLink Scotland through careful consultation with the youth work sector and young people over a number of years.  It has proved to be a valuable tool in planning and evaluating youth work, and most importantly in providing a structure for reflective learning conversations with young people on their youth work journey. The framework can connect well skills frameworks within schools, however it is not intended to replace them or be used in formal education contexts.