Highland Schools & Colleges Celebrate Vocational Learning

The aim of the Partnership Agreement is to formalise the working arrangements between schools and college, which are in place to make sure pupils get as much as possible from their college experience.

Pupils attending vocational pathways at college are gaining experience of being students, and becoming familiar with college life, as well as learning the basic skills of individual trades.

Donnie MacDonald, Highland Council’s Head of Education Services said: "We need people with a range of skills in key sectors of our economy such as Construction and Catering Skills. In Highland, work began on school / college links a number of years ago and this has been further developed through additional funding received from the Scottish Executive in May of this year. This widens the range of vocational learning opportunities pupils can access while they are still attending school. This is a key development in supporting the transition from school to employment and/ or training for Highland students and the future of the Highland economy."

Professor John Little, Principal of Inverness College UHI, said: "We've been delighted to devise, develop and drive forward the Vocational Pathways agenda which has won Inverness College two national awards from the Scottish Qualifications Authority. We were also very pleased to have our work on this cited as an example of 'best practice' to the sector by Her Majesty's Inspectorate. Our role has also been developed as a case study by the Scottish Further Education Unit.

"Central to the college's role has been the close liaison with Highland Council’s Education Service and the excellent partnership relationship established with schools and other agencies.

"Vocational Pathways is so innovative in that it puts in place a recognised system where S3, S4 and S5 pupils can gain vocational skills outwith, but complementary to, the school curriculum - yet delivered in an adult environment. We developed it to meet the needs of young people and industry and this agreement will take it from strength to strength.

"It enables more effective transition from school to further and higher education and to employment, while addressing areas of skills shortage. This is a Highland success story which is to be rolled out through the rest of Scotland and we look forward to working even more closely with the Council on enhancing this programme in the years ahead."

The schools involved are, in:

Lochaber Area are Ardnamurchan; Kinlochleven ; Lochaber and Mallaig High Schools;

Inverness Area, Charleston and Culloden Academies, Inverness High School, Inverness Royal Academy, Kilchumien and Millburn Academies;

Ross and Cromarty Area, Alness, Dingwall, Fortrose, and Invergordon Academies,

Badenoch and Strathspey Area , Grantown Grammar and Kingussie High School;

Sutherland Area, Dornoch Academy and Golspie High School; and

In Nairn Area, Nairn Academy.
 

For further information contact: Moira Forsyth, Business Development Officer, The Highland Council, e-mail: moira.forsyth@highland.gov.uk, tel: 01349 868202.