We launched our skills Academy in February 2020. The Skills Academy is an amalgamation of innovative school projects and other similar or associated activities at Greenwood Academy. The Skills Academy aims to develop vocational, employability and life skills in the young people in structured projects and prepare them for the world of work either in the short term straight from school or in the medium to long term after Further Education.
These are not ad hoc or extra- curricular activities but are provided as elective options within the curriculum and school timetable. These are delivered by either college lecturers or appropriately qualified and accredited teachers supported in a number of cases by external partners or individuals with knowledge, experience and qualifications in the particular field of activity.
Not only do the young people develop vocational, employability and life skills including the core skills referred to as the 6C’s but they also get the opportunity to gain accredited qualifications recognised by various sectors such as hospitality, early years, horticulture giving them equality of opportunity.
Pupils have gained from practical experiences and real life opportunities. In October 2019 GEM Greenwood Events Management were presented with a Prince’s Trust Ayrshire Partnership Award for their support to the Prince’s Trust Achievement and Enterprise Award ceremonies for the last three years.
The established projects within the Greenwood Skills Academy are as follows: –
- “Lovilicious” Nail Bar
- “Gear Up” Cycle Maintenance
- “Brother Wood” Upcycling of furniture
- “GEM” Greenwood Events Management
- “GEM Barista” Barista and customer service
There are two further projects were announced at the launch of the Skills Academy and will be an exciting addition to the five already established projects.
- “Construction Skills”, in partnership with Auchenharvie Academy. This will be the first in North Ayrshire and will seek to support young people into an industry where labour market intelligence shows that is a growth area.
- “Early Years and Childcare”, which seeks to support young people into a career in early education. This will support pupils to access Further Education and ultimately gain employment in an area where we know jobs need to be filled.
The key partners funding and supporting the projects are DYW Ayrshire, the Prince’s Trust and Ayrshire College. Partnership working at Greenwood Academy is embedded in the way we work in order to offer young people with the experiences and opportunities required to make them employable. Positive destinations since the introduction of the courses have increased are above the North Ayrshire and National average.
Lovilicious
Lovilicious was the first innovative school project to be supported by the Prince’s Trust in Scotland. It has been established within Greenwood Academy for 5 years and was funded by an initial £250 grant. It has come a long way since then under the leadership of Mrs Hill, a teacher at Greenwood Academy. Through the Lovilicious nail bar, we endeavour to provide a realistic work environment for young people in order to develop essential skills for work. This includes communication, teamwork problem solving, initiative, planning, organising, self-management and customer service, which are transferable to any workplace.
Through the course, pupils are given the opportunity to gain a wide range of SQA qualifications as well as professional qualifications from industry leaders in the beauty field. For those young people who undertake Lovilicious we aim to build their confidence, skills and experience. The young people have thrived and I have loved watching them gain confidence and develop interpersonal skills, which are transferable to any workplace. This first course of its kind gained national interest and Lovilicious has featured in the BBC I’ll Gotten Gains Series.
Prince’s Trust have now supported close to 100 similar projects across Ayrshire. The forward thinking approach of Mrs McGuire, previous Head Teacher, and staff at Greenwood has developed a way of working which is now well established in other schools.
“Since the implementation of Scotland’s Youth Employment Strategy in response to the recommendations put forward by the Commission for Developing the Young Workforce in September 2014, Greenwood Academy staff have been leading the way in innovative schools projects. As new Head Teacher, I am delighted to be able to launch our Skills Academy. I am looking forward to driving forward with Construction Skills and Early Years and Childcare in the very near future. Since launching the first Skills Academy in Scotland at my previous school as Head Teacher (Stewarton Academy), it is special to join the two first (first Innovative Schools Project – Lovilicious at Greenwood and fist ‘Skills Academy’ at Stewarton) here at Greenwood. Exciting times ahead!”
Katy Hegarty, Head Teacher
“It is fantastic to see the schools investing in this approach. Skills Academies are allowing schools to offer vocational learning to young people out with the traditional setting of a classroom. This is assisting the achievement of positive outcomes for young people by developing their readiness for work, their confidence, the appropriate attitudes and social skills.”
Claire Baird, DYW Ayrshire Project Executive
“The implementation of the skills academy at Greenwood Academy is a key milestone in the development of vocational and employability skills for young people in the school environment. Significant results are being achieved in improved attainment, positive destinations and community involvement. But most importantly it’s providing equal opportunity for all.”
Walter Smith, Prince’s Trust Ayrshire Chair
