Wider Achievement and Flexible Pathways
Wider Achievement
Everyone knows the importance of getting formal qualifications at school – but our pupils are involved in a wide range of activities and have other important achievements, for example in:
- youth work
- volunteering
- part-time employment
- hobbies and interests
- projects that they undertake across the curriculum
- participation in activities and opportunities in school beyond the classroom
- helping out at home.
As a result, young people are developing important skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work that can be of real value to them as they grow up and when it comes to getting a job or going to college or university.
We want to make sure that young people get full recognition for all their achievements – not just their exam results. The SQA have a selection of Awards that recognise the life and work skills that learners gain from activities they may already be taking part in at school, at college or elsewhere (such as sport, mentoring, voluntary work or fund-raising activities). These awards have been designed to recognise wider achievement. An increasing number of our schools are using these awards to help pupils recognise the skills they are developing and demonstrate to employers that our young people are working hard to develop the skills that are valued in the workplace.
Wider achievement is also recognised by a range of organisations such as Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, John Muir Trust, Scout Association and many others. In school, pupils are encouraged to reflect on the skills they are developing and build a profile of how they are progressing as they get older.
Flexible Pathways
A flexible learning pathway is a flexible programme of learning delivered through a variety of methods and experiences offered in different environments. Curriculum for Excellence encourages wider educational opportunities than those previously widely considered within school environments, prioritising skills for life and learning.
A flexible pathway would ensure that students would have the opportunity to select a range of pathways to the workplace. This could include working with school and college staff, experiencing the world of work, working on more vocationally based qualifications or even starting apprenticeships leading to industry recognised qualifications whilst in school. By making the routes through school more varied and applicable to the interests and aspirations, we would expect students to make better choices leading to better opportunities for employment or further study.
