Agenda item

4.1       Kevin McCall, SBC Education Lead Officer, gave a presentation on Developing the Young Workforce, a programme of positive destinations for school leavers which cut across schools, College, Skills Development Scotland, Job Centre Plus, etc.  An explanation was given of the various pathways linked to the programme, which took account of new issues, policies and guidance to put in place a structure to make this happen for young people.  Key highlights for 2016 included a grant for £450k in October 2016 to enhance industry leadership and capacity for engagement with partners and this had enabled work with a wide range of employers.  In March 2016 there were 585 Modern Apprenticeships offered by 99 companies in the Borders and work with Registered Social Landlords had increased the range of these apprenticeships.  Borders College had a formalised permanent post for dedicated time and an aligned timetable was in place with secondary schools, Borders College and the Schools Academy.  Better use had been made of data to design vocational pathways over the next 10 years so different types of apprenticeships were coming in and were being explored.

4.2       The Schools and Pathways Group had developed a regional action plan which provided a whole range of opportunities within schools, although pupils were sometimes still being channelled through traditional routes.  With regard to vulnerable groups activity, Stage 3 Employability Training had involved training for 66 young people, with work experience opportunities and transport funding support.  Project SEARCH had involved 8 young people with learning disability or autism being given employability support in conjunction with Borders College and NHS Borders.  Other support had been provided to looked after and accommodated children and the most vulnerable young people.  In terms of outcomes, the system now produced live data about positive destinations.  In October 2016, 95.8% of school leavers were in a positive destination.  That still left 4% (about 60 young people) not accounted for within the system and the challenge was to find and support those young people. 

4.3       Members of the Board discussed the issues facing young people in seeking work experience, including volunteering.  Reference was made to the Inspire Awards, run by young people and overseen by the Third Sector, which recognised and rewarded young individuals or groups who have been outstandingly successful in a particular field or had overcome considerable obstacles to make a contribution to their local community.  Jedburgh Grammar School had tracked Inspire as a portfolio and had registered every S1 pupil with the Scheme.  Transport could be a challenge for young people but schools worked closely with transport planners and on timing of courses with Borders College to try to mitigate against the reality of the Borders being a rural area.  With the focus on local employer contact and work experience, it was hoped transport would become less of an issue.  The relevance and breadth of work experience opportunities was still an issue at times but these were steadily improving by matching pupils’ needs and aspirations, fitting better to the individual, and also recording the learning experience better so there was evidence that skills had improved.  It would be helpful if more work experience opportunities were available in the STEM sector (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), in particular digital technology and connectivity.  Alastair McKinnon offered to provide details of ‘Women into Construction’ to assist with getting females into work areas traditionally dominated by males.  Opportunities could also exist out-with the boundaries of the Borders but transport could be an issue for these.  Specific work had been undertaken over the last year to support looked after and accommodated children; as an example of partnership working, the College had created a role whereby someone worked with individuals before and after college to provide advice and practical assistance which would usually come from parents.  The Employment Support Service had brought in a Modern Apprenticeship scheme targeting looked after children, but there was more to be done.

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