Councillors pictured with Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop
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Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop, visited South Ayrshire Council Headquarters for a business meeting with David Anderson, Chief Executive, and a group of Councillors and Chief Officers. The Minister then visited Queen Margaret Academy in Ayr to meet participants of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Pilot Project, part of the recognition of wider achievement within the Curriculum for Excellence.
Ministers have been visiting local authorities during the summer to discuss various aspects of Curriculum for Excellence as well as other education and social matters that can affect young people in their home environment. It has also been an opportunity to highlight the work being carried out by the Council through a range of initiatives to address the needs of those being educated in South Ayrshire schools.
Councillor Margaret Toner, Depute Leader of the Council said: "By working with the Scottish Government we can shape the future of education in South Ayrshire and provide young people with the necessary foundation stones for a good education.
Curriculum for Excellence challenges all those involved in education to review the curriculum for children and young people between 3 and 18 years of age. It encourages everyone engaged in educational activity to take responsibility for developing the capacities, attributes and capabilities necessary for children and young people in the 21st century. It also encourages a fresh look at creative, innovative approaches for organising learning to offer experiences that are more personal, provide greater choice and appropriate challenges.
The Minister then went to Queen Margaret Academy where she met Barry Fisher, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Director for Scotland, Moira Gray, Head Teacher, Jamie Wilson, Depute Head of Carrick Academy, Louise Speedie, Project Co-ordinator The Duke of Edinburgh Award and Bruce Harris, Award Officer for the Council who works within Community Learning and Development.
Cabinet Secretary for Education Fiona Hyslop said: "I am delighted to meet with the council today to discuss important local and national issues and to have the opportunity to meet young people who are involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Curriculum for Excellence pilot.
"Taking part in projects such as this helps young people develop their personal and social potential and makes an important contribution to active citizenship, active communities and social inclusion."
Bronze Award participants, Poppy Murray (15) and Sean Pieper (15), who have been involved in a Grafitti Art Project, as part of their Skills Section were at the school to show the Minister what they have been involved in and to answer any questions. Poppy and Sean are the first pupils from the S3 year group participating in the Curriculum for Excellence Pilot Project to achieve their Bronze Award. After presenting them with their certificates the Minister congratulated them on their achievement.
Councillor Hywel Davies, the Council's Portfolio Carrier for Learning and Prosperity said: "The visit to Queen Margaret Academy highlighted the participation of young people in South Ayrshire in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Pilot Project that enhances their existing skills and teaches them new ones. The experience helps to make them well rounded citizens, to take part in community activities and to use their leisure time constructively."
Amongst those who met the Minister were:
- Julie Hogarth, Community Project Officer for the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) was at the school to tell the Minister about the way in which they have worked on the Awards in partnership with the Council.
- Lyndsay Baillie, Principal PE Teacher at Carrick Academy has supported the Award by working with a group of young people who have been involved in Bee Keeping as part of their Skills Section.
- Sarah Murray from Queen Margaret Academy and Anna Cathcart from Carrick Academy, both parent volunteers, met the Minister and were able to tell her first hand of the impact of the programme on young people.
Barry Fisher, Award Director for Scotland said: "The aim of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award's Curriculum for Excellence pilot project is to build schools' capacity to make the Award available to more young people as a means of recognising their wider achievements. The project is providing an opportunity for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award to work closely with schools to develop innovative ways of delivering the Award in schools and strengthen partnerships between schools and their wider communities. The people involved in supporting The Duke of Edinburgh's Award in South Ayrshire have embraced this challenge. I am therefore delighted that the Curriculum for Excellence Pilot Project in South Ayrshire is being recognised by the Cabinet Secretary as an example of good practice. This is a reflection of everyone's dedication and hard work and the pupils' tremendous efforts to achieve their Bronze Awards this year. I am also very pleased to have this opportunity to discuss the contribution which The Duke of Edinburgh's Award can make towards the achievement of the Curriculum for Excellence with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning.
Three short presentations were given:
- Barry Fisher gave a national perspective on the Curriculum for Excellence Pilot Project and summarised initial findings.
- Moira Gray spoke about the impact of the project on the school, teachers and young people and the practicalities of delivering the project within the school.
- Bruce Harris, who is Award Officer for the Council and works in Community Learning and Development reflected on the resources required to run the Award and different models for delivering the Award in both Queen Margaret and Carrick Academy.