This exemplar provides an overview of the career education programme developed by Caskieberran Primary School, Glenrothes, Fife. 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 the planning or implementation of career education for pupils aged from 3-18. It particularly focuses on a strategic approach of developing a coherent programme from nursery to P7 with a focus on enterprise and the development of employability skills in partnership with local employers.

This exemplar is solution focused and outlines practical ideas on how to provide learners with the opportunity to enhance skills for learning, life and work (including STEAM) and meaningful experiences of the world of work. You are invited to use this exemplar to reflect on the following questions:

• How effectively do you plan for career education opportunities and progression pathways for learners from 3 - 18?
• In what ways do you ensure that you meet the needs of all learners to develop skills for learning, life and work?
• 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?
• What strategies have been employed to involve parents in the process of career education at all stages?

Explore this resource

What was done?

Building on a successful enterprising learning culture, Caskieberran Primary School introduced a number of initiatives to enhance employability skills and a knowledge of career paths for learners from nursery to primary 7 and beyond. Some of the key features include diverse and long-term employer partnerships, P7-led Career Fair for all P7s from the cluster primaries, establishing a Career Hub in the school aimed at First/Second level, establishing a career education 'High Street' aimed at Early/First level, incorporating parents in career information and guidance and forming a partnership with Fife College.

Why?

• enhance the development of learners' skills for learning life and work
• enhance pupils' knowledge of jobs and careers available in our local area, using Fife Council's eight identified areas of employment
• inform pupils and parents of the paths available, including college, university and apprenticeship schemes
• build on and extend enterprise education in line with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) and the Fife Council Employability Programme
• enhance school employer partnership
• extend STEAM related career focus
• incorporate parents in the process of career information and guidance

What was the impact?

• awareness of industries, businesses and jobs available in Fife
• understanding of pathways to careers
• engagement in learning, with pupils feeding back that they felt more confident in leading their own learning and in working independently
• development of leadership skills, presentation skills, communication skills, negotiation skills and confidence
• pupils developing ability to identify their own strengths, skills and areas for development
• links made with Fife College
• pupils involved in workshops with Fife College
• enhancement of transition programme from P7 to High School

Videos

See 5 videos looking at the project from different perspectives.

Leadership perspective

Learner perspective

Partner perspective

Embedding the Career Education Standard within the curriculum

Enterprise and Careers cluster event

Downloads

Word file: Caskieberran Primary School (88 KB)

PDF file: Career Education in the Primary Sector - Our Enterprise and Employability Journey (1.1 MB)