DYW Interesting Practice – Craigroyston Community High School: Helping young people realise their aspirations

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• March 29, 2017
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In order to provide the best possible pathways for learners Craigroyston Community High School has fully embraced the DYW agenda and designed a twenty-first century curriculum for learning, life and work, providing all leaners with the opportunity to explore career pathways leading to positive and sustained destinations.

Headteacher Steve Ross placed a strong emphasis on employability when redesigning the curriculum to meet the needs of all learners.   The school vision includes the following statement:

“The school will ensure every young person leaves Craigroyston at the end of S6 with a portfolio of qualifications, skills, experiences and a knowledge of the job market so that they can enter a sustained, positive destination of further/higher education, apprenticeship or employment.”

This vision is underpinned by a culture of high aspirations and fostering a ‘can do’ attitude that both staff and pupils buy into.

In order to enhance learners’ employability and career management skills  the senior phase timetable allows learners to select from a wide range of work related courses to work in industry, undertake apprenticeships or employment.  For more information on the curriculum design in the school access the following documents:

• Senior Courses 2015
• S2 CC Sheet final 2015
• Curriculum Rationale and impact statement

Listen to Steve, his staff and pupils talk about the structure, content and impact of the school’s approach to career education.

• Clip 1:  Developing Skills to realise aspirations
• Clip 2: Pre-Apprenticeship Programme:  Planning and implementation

You can download a summary sheet of the schools approaches to career education here: Interesting Practice in Skills DYW – Craigroyston CHS

As part of this agenda the school offers a pre-apprenticeship programme that allows senior pupils to engage in year-long structured work experience placements with local businesses. On successful completion of their placements, the pupils go on to a guaranteed full-time Modern Apprenticeship with their prospective employer. This unique partnership between Craigroyston CHS and a number of local employers from across the city has received special recognition from the Scottish Qualifications Authority. More information including a video clip here.

Craigroyston’s curriculum offer is having a positive impact.  Staying on rates and attendance figures have both improved significantly, there are now very few exclusions and overall attainment is rising.

Watch the video and Steve Ross – Reflections of a HT (Craigroyston) PowerPoint presentation to find out more about Steve’s vision for the school and the alignment of his work with the Scottish Attainment Challenge.   A case study of Craigroyston Community High School’s innovative approach to the redesign of their whole curriculum can be found on the National Improvement Hub.

Craigroyston CHS also presented at the Scottish Learning Festival 2017 : Craigroyston CHS