Lochend Community High School

All young people have a number of entitlements which are outlined in the Career Education Standard (3-18)(2015).

The standard recognises the journeys children and young people make as they learn about the world of work from the early years to the senior phase. It sets out what children and young people will learn and what parents/ carers, teachers/ practitioners, employers and Skills Development Scotland will do to support their learning. Implementation of the standard will improve the quality and consistency of learning about work and careers. It will improve young people’s ability to make informed decisions about future pathways.

Entitlements of young people include:

• experience a curriculum through which they learn about the world of work and job
  possibilities and which makes clear the strengths and skills needed to take advantage
  of these opportunities;
• develop skills for learning, life and work as an integral part of their education and be
  clear about how all their achievements relate to these;
• opportunities to engage in profiling that supports learning and the development of skills
  for work and future career choices;
• a learning environment that recognises and promotes diversity and supports them to
  understand that it is everyone’s responsibility to challenge discrimination;
• develop understanding of the responsibilities and duties placed on employers and
  employees;
• develop understanding of enterprise, entrepreneurship and self-employment as a
  career opportunity;
• know where to find information and access support making effective use of online
  sources such as My World of Work;
• develop CMS as an integral part of their curriculum;
• further develop CMS through the involvement of SDS Career Advisers in group and
  individual sessions as appropriate to personal circumstances and needs; and
• have access to a broad range of pathways through their senior phase including
  learning opportunities leading to work-related qualifications.

Career Management Skills (CMS) are a core aspect of the Career Education Standard. The standard makes clear the entitlement for all learners to “develop CMS as an integral part of their curriculum”. (CES, page 8).

All members of staff involved in supporting young people continue to work towards embedding CMS within lessons, discussions, and events. CMS comprises of 17 core competencies arranged under four headings:

• Self
• Strengths
• Horizons
• Networks

Further information about CMS can be found on the Skills Development Scotland website: https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/34749/career_management_skills_framework_scotland.pdf

Parents and carers can support their young people by regularly discussing the CMS they are developing, both in-school and out of school.

Opportunities for All is a multi-agency approach which aims to provide flexibility in the Senior Phase Curriculum. Our team works closely with partners, including Skills Development Scotland and the Towards Better Futures team at Glasgow City Council, to offer meaningful learning journeys and career opportunities for all young people in LCHS.

There is a particular focus on:

• student centred, evidence based engagement;
• attainment and wider achievement;
• progression in post-school learning;
• ‘at risk’ leavers including young people requiring additional support for learning, care experienced young people, and young carers;
• improving work placements at appropriate stages;
• preparing young people for the evolving labour market;
• more diverse access to learning and career opportunities;
• positive destinations.

OBJECTIVES & AIMS

• effective and responsive curriculum planning;
• developing learning links with Higher and Further Education partners;
• increase visibility of career pathway options;
• increase targeted vocational opportunities;
• deliver specific events;
• expand teacher insights;
• make DYW meaningful and understandable to young people and their parents.

All staff at Lochend work hard to fulfil the entitlements of young people as set out in the Career Education Standard, and as we strive towards realising the aims of Developing the Young Workforce.

At Lochend, young people should have the information and support to plan their next steps as early as possible, not just in the year before they leave school. 

Pupils will explore careers and experience opportunities to develop employability skills in all curricular areas throughout the year as part of the planned learning. There will also be a number of events which involve young people which provide further opportunities to engage with employers, colleges, universities, and training providers, and gain insight into various careers.

Pupils are also encouraged to consider work placements which provide them with a real life taste of the world of work in a career area of interest to them. This will usually take place in S4, S5, and S6.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) careers advisers work closely with our school, and we have a Careers Adviser based within the SDS base in our school library. Susan meets regularly with young people across all stages to help them plan their next steps. Pupils who would like to make an appointment with Susan should drop in to the SDS base in the school library, or speak with their Pastoral Care teacher, or Eddie Murdoch (DYW Coordinator).

Whilst every member of staff at Lochend play a role in meeting young people’s entitlements as set out in the Career Education Standard, there are a number of key contacts within the school who support young people as they work towards a positive post-school destination.