Kilwinning Academy strives to be an ambitious, successful school, based on the principles of nurture.
We are welcoming, supportive and inclusive. Both academic and vocational achievements are recognised and celebrated.
About Kilwinning Academy
- The school is a non-denominational comprehensive school with a roll of 856 pupils.
- There are significant levels of deprivation in the local area: 67.2% of the school roll live in SIMD 1-3.
- The school utilises a range of strategies to improve pupil attainment, including participation in the Reach Programme and Summer School.
Last session, 27% of the original S4 cohort secured a place at university and 9% attained 5 Highers at A-C. A total of 95% overall achieved a positive destination, which is above average for North Ayrshire
Our SCQF School Ambassador journey
We became a Bronze SCQF Ambassador school in June 2024 and have already progressed to Silver.
We have made big changes to our curriculum over the last few years and this has massively benefited our pupils. We now offer:
- Level 4 – Enterprise and Employability – Nails
- Level 4 – Barista Skills – Customer Service
- Level 4 – Bike Maintenance – Enterprise Award
- Level 6 – NPA Journalism
- Science & Technology Level 5
- SfW Health Sector Level 5
- Level 5 – NPA Furniture Making
- Levels 3/4 Employability award for S3/4 pupils (completed during PSHE)
- Music Tech N5
- Level 4 – Childcare
- Level 4 – Internet safety Award
- Level 4 Security fundamentals (unit only)
- Level 5 – Criminology
- Level 5 – Scottish Studies
S5/6 pupils can also attend Ayrshire College and pick from 31 college options. Choices include Foundation Apprenticeships in Engineering and Social Services, Children & Young People, There’s also a variety of National Progression Awards (NPAs) at levels 5 and 6, Skills for Work programmes at levels 4 and 5, and even some HNCs at SCQF level 7.
An SCQF board has been created and Ambassadors attend parents’ evenings to share pathways and their own experiences of undertaking an NPA.
National Progression Awards (NPAs)
NPAs are perhaps less well known by parents. These awards are aimed at developing and assessing vocational skills and can give young people a greater insight and experience of a particular industry.
NPAs are typically assessed through ongoing gathering of evidence and do not have formal exams. We have found that this takes the pressure off senior pupils and provides an opportunity for them to explore a new subject which may boost their study and career goals.
To provide a visual representation of learning opportunities, our SCQF Ambassadors have created subject pathways by SCQF level for each faculty.
Highlights have included:
- Ambassadors speaking to S2/S4 pupils in Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) classes to raise awareness of the SCQF.
- Our annual careers event for S4-6 pupils, which 28 employers attended.
- We ran a financial workshop for S6 pupils to learn more about personal finance.
- We launched new level 4 qualifications.
- In November, the Lord-Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran, Sheriff McDonald, attended our DYW launch of our NPAs in Nails, Cycle Maintenance and Barista.
We promote what we’re doing at school on our X account – @KilwAcadDYW. This includes our work with local employers such as GE Caledonian, PwC, Polestar, the NHS and Dains Accountants. We also share training and apprenticeship opportunities, as well as careers advice and information.
We have been working with neighbouring Ayrshire schools, Marr College and Queen Margaret Academy, both Gold Ambassador schools, to share ideas and learn lessons from their SCQF journey to help us on our way to Gold.
Next steps
Looking to the future, we want to increase the number and type of qualifications that we offer at Kilwinning Academy.
And watch this space for a new blog from our Ambassadors talking about why they wanted to become SCQF Ambassadors and what they have learned from the role.
As they say, every day’s a school day!
Pupil quote:
I am doing my Level 6 Sport leadership award and have been able to spend time at my local primary school helping with a variety of sports. I have been able to share my experiences with other pupils and parents at parents’ evenings. I enjoy this award as I like to keep fit and it helps with my other qualifications. I also like that there is no exam and enjoy being continually assessed.
– Hollie
Isla and Josh: Why we became SCQF Ambassadors
Kilwinning Academy pupils Josh and Isla talk about why they wanted to become SCQF Ambassadors.
Hollie and Bailie: What we have learned about the SCQF
Holly and Bailie talk about what they have learned since becoming SCQF Ambassadors.
Freya and Amy: SCQF benefits
Freya and Amy talk about the benefits of the SCQF
