Enhancing the Senior Phase
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Register here“We know only too well that we can’t achieve all we want for our young people without having partners, and that we work best by pooling our resources.”
Mark Jones, Quality Improvement Manager, Aberdeen City Council
This pilot project involved Aberdeen City Council; Aberdeenshire Council; North East Scotland College; the University of Aberdeen; and Robert Gordon University. The project was designed to improve what is offered to senior-stage pupils at schools in the region.
The partners worked together to develop new HNC level 7 opportunities for S6 pupils. These included pathways into tertiary education. After preliminary testing, the partners ran a successful pilot scheme in six city schools.
They also created a winter leavers’ programme to provide progression routes to employment or further study for young people wishing to leave school after S4 but unable to do so because of their birth dates.
The project’s Strategic Working Group was one of the keys to its success. This group will provide a legacy and will continue the region’s commitment to a joined-up approach.
Project Aims and Objectives
The aim of this project was to enhance senior phase education provision by creating new pathways to meet the needs of students and the regional economy.
Objectives:
- Offer a meaningful alternative to S4 at school to winter leavers, providing opportunities for young people to access further study or employment.
- Provide HNC Level 7 opportunities to appropriate senior phase S6 pupils, with articulation options on completion, with the pupil able to continue as part of a school community.
- Develop a regional strategic working group to focus on enhancing the senior phase.
Key Working/Strategic Groups Established to Deliver the Project
Regional Strategic Working Group: This group comprised representatives from North East Scotland College; Aberdeen City Council; Aberdeenshire Council; Robert Gordon University; and the University of Aberdeen. It oversaw the project’s tests of change and explored additional ways to enhance senior phase provision.
Short-Life Working Groups: These groups included the same representatives from the Strategic Working Group, with the addition of member relevant the aims of each test project.
Outputs Delivered
Increased HNC Offer: A pilot was tested successfully with one school, with an enhanced pilot for six city schools. As a result, an increased HNC was offered delivered in the academic year 2024-25. The offer for S6s included three HNC courses and applications were open to pupils in both local authority areas.
HNC Progression Pathways: In collaboration with the ‘Developing Demand-Led, Aligned and Sustainable Learner Pathways’ project, articulation pathways were agreed with Robert Gordon University for 12 pathways into year 2 of related degree programmes.
Winter Leaver Programme: The programme included three courses; Foundation Apprenticeship Hospitality, Foundation Apprenticeship Construction, and City & Guilds Level 1 Hairdressing.
Establishing a Strategic Working Group: This group will continue the commitment to a joined-up approach to provision beyond the life of the pilot.
Project Insights
The tables below provide insights into the project. They highlight the context in which the project tested new ways of working, enhanced learner pathways, and improved regional skills planning.
SFC Strategic Plan 2022-27
Building a connected, agile, sustainable tertiary education and research system for Scotland.