South Ayrshire Council News

South Ayrshire Council has been allocated £424,609 by the Scottish Government
for 'Determined to Succeed'. This is the third year of ring fenced funding which will enable young people in schools to develop enterprise and employability skills.

Determined to Succeed has 6 key themes which enable enterprise to flourish and maximise opportunities for engaging employers in young people's learning. These are:

• Supporting the development of skills for life, skills for work
• Engaging employers
• Broadening the reach of 'Determined to Succeed'
• Embedding enterprise in the curriculum
• Building capacity
• Enhancing our international profile.

Councillor Hywel Davies, Lifelong Learning Portfolio Holder said: "'Determined to Succeed' has been an outstanding success. It has seen young people having an opportunity to meet and learn from members of our business communities, specialists and voluntary organisations.

"As a Council we have been promoting enterprising learning and teaching successfully for many years. The principles of 'Determined to Succeed' are now embedded in the Curriculum for Excellence and the ethos of each of our schools.

"Young people need experience of the world outside of school to prepare them for entering the world of work or further education."

Through 'Determined to Succeed', pupils have already benefited from a range of projects including the establishment of a youth forum, participation in MiniTrials at Ayr Sherriff Court, work experience and college links, outdoor learning initiatives, enterprise projects, fundraising initiatives and the fostering of links with schools in other countries through particular projects such as the development of Mandarin and the understanding of Chinese culture.

This year the main thrust of Determined to Succeed will be to continue the embedding of enterprise within the curriculum.