Learning about Learning

Summary of my notes from the event on Jan 17th

Keynote : Sir Robert Smith(Scottish and Southern Energy) - Smith Group

Self appointed, business and entrepreneurs group.  Interested in supporting MCMC youngsters.

Only Turkey and Mexico have worse stats  for OECD countries for NEET 16-19 year olds (35000)

Key to have college/school/business triangle of provision.

Smith group offering work experience placements, being rolled out across Scotland this year.

Using federation of small businesses, providing vocational ed opportunities and work experience for youngsters.

Keynote: Graham Hollowell

NEET Strategy Coventry & Warwickshire

Government strategy

Careful tracking

Range of voc ed programmes

Personalised support & guidance for youngsters

September Guarantee is a guarantee that every youngster who applies for a learning opportunity will get one

Early identification / indicators

Workshop 2

Glasgow’s vocational education.

All under one central group including training for work, apprenticeships etc

Special Programme for looked aftger youngsters : EVIP

Programmes include recognised qualifications like lifeguarding and CITB

Referrer (school) will decide who goes on the course, not the college or central agency group

In S4 they have an employability day, with a mock interview from an employer

Co-ordinated support plan is in place for every young person taking part in vocational courses

Opportunities:

EVIP(enhanced vocational inclusion programme)

YOUTH START

SOCCER SUCCESS

WINTER LEAVERS

Development of alternative curricula

EVIP (full-time programme)

Vocational coach

CSP

Intensive employability input

Development and recognition of soft skills(Step it up) youthlink website : (it is an evaluation tool)

Transition planning and support

Funded (until end of financial year)by external funding from Scottish Government, european funding etc

Glasgow City Council have one round of ‘corporate’ recruitment for which every youngster who is on a vocational programme is guaranteed a first level  interview and prepare for this with their vocational coach

The ability not to take myself too seriously, invaluable.

I am hoping to undertake an EEBL placement with the Mercy Corps in the next couple of months.  The focus will be producing a global citizenship CPD resource for teachers, as well as finding out more about the work the Mercy Corps does across the world.  We hope to have some time with a group of teachers from East Timor who are visiting the UK in May so I’m really excited about the prospect of taking part. 

I’ll be writing more when things are firmed up.

I’m grateful for Christmas holiday time with the family!

Resilience and perspective.  Two key attributes for any teacher!

The loss of the Community Liaison Team Active Steps outdoor education provision from our ALPs programme due to funding not being renewed will be a major blow.  Sally Harris and her team have done a fantastic job working with our youngsters in the past year and it will mean a re-think of our programme at the school.  I know that the team have done similar, excellent work throughout East Lothian in the past few years with many different groups of young people and their provision will be sorely missed.  A great shame.

Today’s debt of gratitude goes to all of the inspirational and wise people I’ve met in my life, as well as to all the setbacks and defeats I’ve had. 

Every one has been and excellent opportunity to learn about myself and my direction in life.

I’m grateful that I live in a society  in which I’m able to express my thoughts and opinions, even if other people do not agree with them.

I am grateful for being able to learn from my experiences.  Somebody somewhere once said, “there is no failure, only feedback”.  Very true in my opinion, but not always easy to see.