Developing the Young Workforce
Miss Stirling (PT DYW) posts regular updates about the amazing work completed by our young people. Please see their work here and here.
Careers Week
As part of Careers Week at Brannock, we held a number of events to help our young people think about their future pathway. Our S4-S6 pupils were also able to take part in CV Writing Workshops with J.P Morgan to assist them as they begin applying for jobs. As well as this some of our S6 House Captains interviewed staff about their own personal career pathway to help show our pupils that there is ‘no wrong path’. We also asked staff to display their previous jobs, the skills they developed and how these have helped them to get to the career they are in now. We also held interactive sessions with ex-pupils from a variety of pathways including, the world of work, college, university and different apprenticeships. This meant our current S4-S6 pupils were able to ask questions and learn from ex-pupils directly about the route they might want to go down.
Work Experience
A huge number of S4-S6 cohort have been undertaking work experience this session. We have had young people out gaining experience working in a whole range of sectors and industries. A number of pupils have taken part in construction placements with companies such as Cruden, CCG, Carghill Property Maintenance Services and many more. We have also one young person who has been working with the NLC Litigation Team to help her as she progresses into her future pathway of Law. A number of young people have been working within local libraries, primary schools as well as businesses and organisations that will help support them as they move through their journey into their chosen career field. One lucky young person who has been working with a Car Valeting company managed to clean the car of famous face, Greg Hemphill (AKA Victor McDade from Scotland’s famous sitcom, ‘Still Game’).
A massive thank you to our wider school community for lots of donations of PPE and construction work wear which enable lots of our young people to be able to access placement opportunities safely.
Alternative Curricular Programme
A group of our S4 and S5 pupils have been taking part in an alternative curricular programme with DMG Services Group Limited. They have been developing skills such as teamwork, leadership and confidence. They have been attending the DMG Roofing Academy every week to learn the basics of roofing, construction and health and safety. The young people have been gaining experience in a live working environment. The young people received completion certificates for the ‘Introduction to Roofing’ course. Ex-pupil, Michael Cairns also paid them a visit to talk about his pathway. Michael was a Brannock pupil who engaged with DMG through DYW within school and is now completing an apprenticeship with the company. DMG Services Group have also agreed to be our school sponsor for our Youth Philanthropy Initiative this year. We are excited to see this partnership grow!
In addition to this, some of our S1-S3 pupils have been involved with our alternative curricular programme with Mobile Car Valet Glasgow. The young people have been running a small business enterprise and have managed to make £310! The group have decided to donate £77.50 to St Andrew’s Hospice. This has helped the young people to learn the basics of Car Valeting as well as gain skills in entrepreneurship, attention to detail and communication. Three of our young people were also lucky enough to receive an award of excellence from Mobile Car Valet Glasgow. Out of 5,000 young people across Scotland who are training through this programme, only 25 of the excellence awards were given out to schools across the country. Massive well done to Shay Milne, Kenzie Gibbons and Michal Kuca for all their hard work.
DYW Events
This year we have been fortune to have been able to allow our young people to take part in many DYW events that will help them to shape their pathway. The Science Department have been busy working with their business partners and have been able to take pupils along to a variety of STEM events. This has included a Girls in STEM event with BioCity.
Young people from S2 were also able to attend New College Lanarkshire’s Step into STEM event where they were able to see how science can be used in real life through a variety of different careers and industries.
In conjunction with Skills Development Scotland, young people have been able to access Careers Events to ensure ‘No one is left behind’. In addition to this, some of our keen future mechanics were able to attend a career day at REMIT Training Academy to learn more about the Automotive Industry.
Some of our future Medics were lucky enough to attend a hands-on, skills experience day with NHS Next Gen – ‘Junior Doctor Day’. This enabled our young people an insight into what a career in Medicine might look like.
For our young people interested in careers within the construction industry, this year has been jam packed so far! We have had one of our partners, Muir Homes, out to the school to deliver talks with the young people on the range of job options available within the construction sector. Muir Homes also carried out a Mock Interview Morning with a cohort of our young people which was very beneficial and a great experience for pupils in preparation for leaving school. More Mock Interview Sessions will follow later in the school year. Young people also attended a construction career taster day at CCG Head Offices, again as an opportunity to learn more about the industry and the skills required to be successful.
A busy term for DYW with more plans in place for the year ahead.