Highland Schools and College Celebrate Vocational Learning For Pupils
Representatives of ten secondary schools from Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross met today at the North Highland College’s Tern House campus in Alness to sign three area partnership agreements with the college aimed at progressing vocational opportunities for pupils and to demonstrate formally their commitment to school-college links.
From Wick to Dingwall, the partnerships were set up and have met regularly for the last 18 months to create more vocational opportunities for Highland pupils. The partnerships are made up of secondary schools from Caithness, Sutherland, and Ross and Cromarty, and North Highland College, with support from Careers Scotland; Local Enterprise Companies; Brora Learning Centre; and Highland Council’s Enterprise in Education team.
The three area partnerships are charged with realising one of the main aims of the Scottish Executive’s Enterprise in Education initiative, ‘Determined to Succeed’: to offer vocational learning opportunities on the curriculum to all pupils of aged 14 and over. The Partnerships also collaborate to help them achieve another main strand of ‘Determined to Succeed’ – to offer an enterprise experience to all pupils from Primary 1 to Secondary 6.
The schools involved in the East Ross partnership include: Tain Royal, Alness, Invergordon, and Dingwall Academies. The South Sutherland partnership comprises Dornoch Academy, Golspie High School, and Tain Royal Academy while in Caithness and North Sutherland the partnership there involves Wick, Thurso and Farr high schools.
The courses offered by North Highland College to pupils at the Thurso Campus include: Construction; Information Technology; Community Care; Psychology; Drama; Business Management; Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy; Engineering; Welding. At the Dornoch Campus Intermediate Professional Cookery is available and at the Alness Campus
Access to Childcare; Psychology; Third Year Taster Programme; Skills Course for Fifth year pupils leaving school are also on offer.
Marcus Mennie, Assistant Principal, North Highland College, said, ‘These Partnerships have helped colleges and schools to work together to meet the requirements of the Determined to Succeed initiative through local coordinated effort and planning. This in turn means pupils benefit from vocational opportunities offered by the college and they can make informed decisions about college courses in future.’
Kenneth McIver, Head Teacher at Alness Academy said, ‘At Alness Academy we have been delighted with the close links developed with North Highland College in recent sessions. Our pupils have had a real benefit from the opportunity to undertake courses in the European Computer Driving License and in Psychology. The pupils who have chosen vocational options for this coming session will reap the benefits of greater choice and flexibility, allowing more of them to achieve success.’
The Highland Council ‘Determined to Succeed’ budget is investing in improved vocational infrastructure across Highland, including out of school provision for young people at risk of exclusion, and tailor made training facilities within schools in hairdressing and construction.
For further information contact: Marcus Mennie, North Highland College, e-mail: marcus.mennie@thurso.uhi.ac.uk, tel. (01847) 889301, or Moira Forsyth, Business Development Officer, The Highland Council, e-mail: moira.forsyth@highland.gov.uk, tel: 01349 868202.