Labour market information inspires curriculum change in the Western Isles
Over the last years a long-term education:economic strategy has been put in place that applies Labour Market Information (LMI) to enhance ‘Personalisation and Choice’ in senior phase and drive forward curriculum change. As a result the Western Isles have achieved significantly improved SQA vocational education attainment, greater equity of provision, a local economically-relevant curriculum and increased positive, sustained destination rates for young people.
LMI-identified maritime industries are a key sector in this local authority and a wide range of work-based learning opportunities have been created for young people, now embedded within the senior phase curriculum. As a result all CnES presenting centres run popular N5 Maritime Skills for Work courses. Such has been the industry recognition of the maritime skills, experiences and qualifications gained by young people in school, a number of pupils have secured part-time work with the Stornoway Port Authority and others employment in the aquaculture, ferry and fishing industries.
Iain Stewart (Education and Childrens’ Services) comments: “Our education/economic strategy has significantly improved the industry-relevant skills/qualifications employers are looking for and as a result enhanced the employability of young people – a win-win situation for all parties involved. Young people find local employment, develop essential skills for what world of work and employers save money and time on the training of a young workface.”
The LMI prioritisation of STEM has also driven considerable senior phase change in recent years. Pupils in Castlebay School, Isle of Barra, informed by LMI asked for SQA Engineering in senior phase. Outcomes has taken the form of very good SQA results, increased post school progression to engineering FE and HE courses and to engineering work destinations. Of the ten Sgoil Lionacleit pupils on the Engineering Skills for Work course in 2014, eight progressed to engineering destinations In 2015, Western Isles schools, with under 1% of Scotland’s pupils accounted for 28% of SQA Engineering Skills for Work N5 passes (up from 24% in 2014).
The integration of LMI with pupil ‘Personalisation & Choice’ data promotes the ‘responsive schooling system’, something highlighted by the OECD as being of importance. The resulting senior phase progression pathways in the Western Isles have tangibly engaged young people, who see the economic currency and relevance of S4/5/6. Latest figures show over 25% of CnES school leavers with SQA vocational qualifications at SCQF 5 and above (Scottish average 9%) and of the 2015 school leavers, 42% are in work (also highest in Scotland).
LMI continues to inform new developments including industry-relevant SQA vocational qualifications and CnES E-Sgoil Gaelic language opportunities.
NB.: Here some additional statistics in support of the above:
- Scotland’s Youth Employment Strategy – Developing the Young Workforce KPI3 “increase the percentage of school leavers attaining vocational qualifications at SCQF level 5 and above”: (Data from Scottish Government ‘Summary statistics for attainment, leaver destinations and healthy living, No. 6: 2016 Edition – Attainment and Leaver Destinations’ 22 June 2016)
| Percentage of 2014 school leavers attaining 1+ vocational qualifications at SCQF Level 5 and above | Percentage of 2015 school leavers attaining 1+ vocational qualifications at SCQF Level 5 and above | ||
| Aberdeen City | 7.1% | 8.7% | |
| Aberdeenshire | 4.5% | 4.4% | |
| Angus | 3.7% | 3.9% | |
| Argyll & Bute | 10.6% | 15.7% | |
| Clackmannanshire | 4.3% | 1.8% | |
| Dumfries & Galloway | 8.7% | 6.7% | |
| Dundee City | 6.0% | 8.9% | |
| East Ayrshire | 8.2% | 9.3% | |
| East Dunbartonshire | 8.3% | 11.3% | |
| East Lothian | 7.7% | 10.3% | |
| East Renfrewshire | 7.8% | 8.6% | |
| Edinburgh City | 8.0% | 10.6% | |
| Eilean Siar | 24.8% | 26.0% | |
| Falkirk | 8.9% | 10.6% | |
| Fife | 3.0% | 4.0% | |
| Glasgow City | 6.9% | 10.2% | |
| Highland | 11.0% | 10.5% | |
| Inverclyde | 0.6% | 3.5% | |
| Midlothian | 7.1% | 16.4% | |
| Moray | 7.7% | 8.1% | |
| North Ayrshire | 5.5% | 12.0% | |
| North Lanarkshire | 9.3% | 9.7% | |
| Orkney Islands | 11.4% | 15.4% | |
| Perth & Kinross | 11.5% | 13.6% | |
| Renfrewshire | 4.1% | 6.2% | |
| Scottish Borders | 2.5% | 4.1% | |
| Shetland Islands | 7.1% | 10.4% | |
| South Ayrshire | 4.8% | 7.7% | |
| South Lanarkshire | 3.1% | 3.9% | |
| Stirling | 3.9% | 5.9% | |
| West Dunbartonshire | 9.0% | 15.6% | |
| West Lothian | 20.4% | 21.4% | |
| Grant Aided | 12.9% | 8.0% | |
| Scotland | 7.3% | 9.0% | |
| (Vocational qualifications: NC, HNC, SVQ, NPA, & Skills for Work.) | |||
** CnES 2015 leavers follow-up, 97% in sustained destinations (with 42% in work) Data from SDS SLDR
*** Skills Strategy Spotlight Better Skills, Better Jobs, Better Lives, OECD 2013
****LMI priority-STEM With under 1% of the national school roll CnES schools in 2015 accounted for 28% of the SQA N5 Engineering Skills for Work passes. Data – Insight.
***** SQA vocational qualifications in Local Food Production, Maritime, Harris Tweed, Crofting, Traditional Boatbuilding. Available SQA.org
