Kilmarnock Academy Secures Silver
Pupils and staff at Kilmarnock Academy are celebrating after gaining Silver SCQF School Ambassador status.
The East Ayrshire secondary school has become only the third school in Scotland, and the first in the local authority area, to reach silver level since the recognition programme was introduced.
Originally launched in 2015, the SCQF School Ambassador programme offers secondary schools the opportunity to learn more about the benefits of the SCQF and the wider ways in which it supports learners. These include recognising wider achievement, developing senior phase learning pathways and demonstrating equality between vocational and academic qualifications.
The SCQF Partnership introduced the tiered recognition element of the programme in August 2020 to make sure that all the amazing work on enhancing learning pathways being done in secondary schools across Scotland is recognised, highlighted and celebrated.
There are now three levels (Bronze, Silver and Gold) in the process, with schools required to upload evidence to demonstrate how they are meeting the criteria of each level.
To recognise its fantastic achievement, Kilmarnock Academy has received a silver plaque to join the bronze plaque which the school received in February 2021.
David Rose, Kilmarnock Academy’s Head Teacher, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to receive the Silver SCQF Award. This recognises the work that has gone into raising awareness of the Framework and how it links with learning across a broad spectrum, ensuring our young people are fully informed as they progress in their education.
There has been a huge investment in our vocational pathways, which are supported by the Central Education Team who co-ordinate a range of external partners including Ayrshire College, Ayrshire Chamber and DYW Ayrshire. Key staff at Kilmarnock Academy have established superb relationships with these fantastic organisations to provide a sector leading, progressive experience for our young people across several stages. They are extremely popular and successful in our school, with young people achieving qualifications up to SCQF level 7. We currently have 85 pupils following our pathways.
These courses offer our young people a wide variety of industry-recognised qualifications and work experience, which are invaluable and link into further and higher education or employment which of course, has improved our leaver destinations.”
Councillor Fiona Campbell, Cabinet Member for Lifelong Learning, Education and Skills and Culture said:
“What a wonderful achievement by Kilmarnock Academy. I am delighted to offer my congratulations to David Rose and the whole school community on being only the third school in Scotland to receive the Silver Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Award.
In East Ayrshire, we are committed to working in partnership with local organisations like DYW Ayrshire and the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and local and national businesses to secure the best possible outcomes for our young people. Now, more than ever, we need to support our young people into work and help them achieve the best they can be. The SCQF has an important role to play in helping our young people, and their parents, plan their learning journey and secure positive outcomes.”
Depute Head Teacher, Angela Brownlie, added:
“Our curriculum offer means all of our young people can follow their chosen pathway, learn new skills, experience the world of work and gain a wide range of qualifications. With pathways devised in response to labour market information, the focus is on skills development and ensuring progression.
There has not only been a positive impact on pupil attainment but also an increase in confidence and self-belief. As a result, our young people successfully go onto positive destinations, with excellent foundations to build on post-school. Our positive working relationships with partners are vital to the success of these pathways as they support our young people to achieve their best.”
SCQF Partnership Development Officer, Donnie Wood, who manages the programme, said:
“‘Huge congratulations to Kilmarnock Academy for becoming only the third school in Scotland to reach Silver level status! By doing so, they have demonstrated an outstanding whole school approach to utilising the full range of qualifications on the SCQF. It’s clear that staff, pupils and parents have a great awareness of learner pathways and, combined with the excellent links with partners, pupils can take part in qualifications that are engaging and give them the skills they need to progress.”
The SCQF School Ambassador Programme is free to join and open to any secondary school in Scotland.
If your school would like to find out more, contact Donnie or have a look at what's involved.
Sign up for our newsletter
Receive our latest news, workshop alerts and updates to our helpful resources via email.