Author: DG Sanquhar Academy Office

Royal Bank of Scotland Career Sense

With National Apprenticeship Week taking place this week (5–11 February), now’s the perfect time to sign up for Royal Bank of Scotland CareerSense and book a curriculum-linked workshop!

CareerSense offers free, flexible and easy-to-use resources to inspire young people to explore career options and discover their transferable skills.

Exploration Workshop

The Exploration Workshop for 13-18s is a free, hour-long session that helps young people develop new skills and feel more confident about their future. Click the link below to register.

https://teachers.mycareersense.com/register/

CareerSense Dream Bigger Workshop

The CareerSense Dream Bigger workshop for 16-18s is a free, hour-long workshop designed to build transferable entrepreneurial skills and career confidence. Click the link below to register.

https://teachers.mycareersense.com/register/

 

Young Woman’s Conference 2024

We have an exciting opportunity for up to 6 young women and girls (ages 12 – 15 years)  to participate in Dumfries and Galloway’s first ever Young Women’s Conference that is taking place at the North West Castle, Stranraer on Saturday 9th March to celebrate International Women’s Day 2024!

The conference will run from 10.00am – 5.00pm and is packed full of motivational workshops, inspirational speakers, networking and much much more.  Each delegate will receive a free goody bag with #IWD24 merch, lunch & refreshments throughout the day & transport to and from the conference is available.

Please click the link below for more information.

YWN YP Invite V2

Skills Development Scotland (SDS)

This as an update from Skills Development Scotland (SDS) on how to access the Career Service in school:

 

SDS is the national career service, and they have careers advisers in every state secondary school in Scotland.

This service helps young people develop their career management skills, and make good decisions for their future.

Your young person will speak to their adviser at points throughout the school year and will also be supported by them at key times such as starting S1, making option choices, and preparing for moving on from school. This will be delivered through drop-ins, one-to-one appointments, and group learning sessions.

There is lots of useful career information and advice available at any time through Scotland’s careers website My World of Work. There is also a dedicated area for parents and carers with information to help you have career conversations at home.

If you or your young person would like to make an appointment with your school careers adviser, please contact the school office for details.

Beyond school, SDS advisers are also available at one of SDS’s network of centres or community venues across the country. Visit myworldofwork.co.uk/centres to find your nearest centre, or call the SDS freephone helpline on 0800 917 8000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).

You can also find out more about SDS’s career service in schools at sds.co.uk

For details of all the career service support available for you and your young person from Skills Development Scotland in school, please visit sds.co.uk

Senior House Cup and Sports Day 2023

Senior House Cup will take place Wednesday 7th June afternoon at the track – All new S5 and S6 will be at the track participating or observing – they are all permitted to wear sports wear for the day.
Sports Day will take place Thursday 8th June – all Day.   All New S2-S4 will be at the track all day participating or observing and S5 and S6 will be there for the afternoon.  They are permitted to wear sports wear for the day.
Parents/Carers are welcome to come and spectate both days.

Free School Meals and School Clothing Grant(s) 2023-2024

Free School Meals and School Clothing Grants (FSM-SCG) for parents/guardians with an active means tested claim for Council Tax Reduction (CTR)

If you have a child or children that have been in receipt of Free School Meals-School Clothing Grant for the 2022-23 academic year, and you are in receipt of Council Tax Reduction (CTR), and you meet the qualifying criteria (as noted below), you do not need to reapply.

We will use the information we have on your CTR claim to assess your continued entitlement to FSM-SCGs, and your claim will be carried into the next school year.

Payments will begin being issued to parents in mid-June 2023 and continue regularly thereafter.

If you meet the above noted points, and have not received your SCG for your child or children in P1 to S4 by July, please contact us for further guidance/information via email at EducationBenefits@dumgal.gov.uk. Please make sure you include your full name, address and your child/children’s name(s), date(s) of birth and the school they attend. We will then reply to advise whether you need to apply again or not.

If your child or children is moving into S5 or S6, we cannot pay their School Clothing Grant or award Free School Meals until their school has confirmed attendance in August.

The qualifying criteria for the upcoming school year are:

  • Child attends a Dumfries and Galloway Council school, and the parent/guardian is in receipt of:
    • Income Support
    • Job Seeker’s Allowance (Income Based)
    • Employment and Support Allowance (Income Based)
    • Universal Credit with a monthly income of not more than £726
    • Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit with an annual taxable income of less than £8,717
    • Child Tax Credit on its own, with an annual taxable income of less than £18,725
    • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
    • Coordinated Support Plan (CSP) (FSM only)

Free School Meals and School Clothing Grants (FSM-SCG) for parents/guardians who do not have an active means tested claim for Council Tax Reduction (CTR)

If you currently do not have an active means tested award for Council Tax Reduction, you will need to reapply for Free School Meals and School Clothing Grant, even if you have received FSM-SCG for the 2022-23 academic year.

Applications can be made online at http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/schoolmeals.

Please remember that Council Tax Reduction is a means tested assessment that you will have had to apply for and provide proof of your household and income details. It is not to be confused with a discount (or standard reduction) to your Council Tax bill, for example a Single Person’s Discount. Such discounts are not means tested, which means we will not have confirmation of your household income details, and therefore are unable to assess your entitlement to FSM-SCGs.

Parents/guardians that have received FSM-SCG for their child or children for the 2022-23 academic year, who do not have an active CTR claim, will need to reapply. In the meantime, if you know you do not have an active CTR claim, please apply via the above noted link.

If you are unsure of your circumstances, but have been receiving FSMs, please email EducationBenefits@dumgal.gov.uk with any queries you have or for further guidance.

Unsure about whether your claim(s) will be carried forward or not? Please email and ask.

 If your child/children has received means tested Free School Meals-School Clothing Grant(s) in the 2022-23 academic year and you are unsure whether you should reapply, please email us and ask at EducationBenefits@dumgal.gov.uk.

Send us an email with your name, address and your child/children’s name(s), date(s) of birth and the school they attend. We will then reply to advise whether you need to apply again or not.

Uptree Event – S4, S5, and S6 pupils

Uptree event – S4, S5, and S6 pupils
~ Anyone interested contact Miss Dickman ~
A careers platform for senior phase and college students helping them bridge the gap between education and employment. We run work experience days with leading companies, offer free careers education resources, and deliver careers assemblies/workshops to students all over the UK.
I wanted to let you know about FuturesUP, our upcoming multi-industry careers event for students in S4, S5, and S6. The event is taking place on 14 June so this would be a great opportunity for students to take part in between exams finishing and the summer holidays.
FuturesUP is a multi-industry careers event designed by students for students. At the event, senior phase students will get to network with and find out about opportunities with leading employers like:
• J.P. Morgan
• KPMG
• Clyde and Co.
• The Mortgage Lender
• Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
• And more!
97% of attendees at our last FuturesUP said it was very or extremely helpful in improving their confidence when speaking to professionals
Details:
• When: 14 June, 10am – 12:30pm
• Where: KPMG LLP, 319 St Vincent St, Glasgow, G2 5AS
• Who should apply: S4, S5, and S6 students who want to explore career pathways and
build their confidence.
• What will attendees do: Meet employers from a range of industries, take part in industry activities, learn about career pathways (including apprenticeships), and speed-network with
professionals and like-minded students.