Last week Blairgowrie High School provided the inspiration for a group of Indian education specialists hoping to mirror Scotland’s success in preparing young people for the world of work.
The delegates were on a fact-finding mission to witness first-hand how the practical and vocational skills pupils develop in the classroom can be put to use in the workplace.
The visit, organised by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training in India (NABET), took in pupil demonstrations in the purpose built teaching kitchen and restaurant at Blairgowrie High School. Delegates enjoyed a marvellous lunch prepared by pupils and assisted by Willie Little of Little’s restaurant in Blairgowrie – one of the school’s business partners. The school has many business partners linked to the success of developing hospitality skills of young people including Love to Eat and ELM associates (event organisation), who also had representatives at the lunch.
The visitors from India were on a week-long tour of Scotland taking in other examples of how young people’s skills and talents are identified and enhanced including a focus on the construction industry, a visit to the site of the new South Glasgow Hospital and an overview of hair and beauty training before five of the delegation heads to Dundee to complete a course on becoming master-trainers, enabling them to pass on coaching and development skills to other teachers once they return to their schools in India.
Lynn Smith, Principal Teacher of Home Economics at Blairgowrie High School, said: “Skills for work courses focus on developing generic employability skills that young people need to succeed in the work place. They are flexible enough to allow us to tailor what we offer to our pupils, allowing us to develop good relationships with local employers and they have definitely contributed to our success in ensuring our pupils end up in positive destinations – either going on to further or higher education, training or employment.”
