Senior phase vocational pathways
29. In addition to the current range of subjects offered from SCQF levels 2–7, plans for senior
phase vocational pathways in 2015-16 have been agreed in partnership with the three local
authorities and all 27 secondary schools. In 2015-16, 86 school-college programmes will
offered to schools including the introduction of two-year NC programmes in Care, Games
development, Sport and Engineering for S5 and S6 pupils.
30. The College will offer an Engineering Foundation Apprenticeship to pupils in the senior phase
of secondary schools in East, North and South Ayrshire Councils. This reinforces the College’s
commitment to key themes set out in Developing the Young Workforce and to the strategic
goals in the College’s Outcome Agreement and Strategic Plan, in particular to ensure young
people access high quality vocational qualifications from a young age which are based on
labour market needs.
31. The Foundation Apprenticeship will comprise Performing Engineering Operations SVQ Level 2;
National Certificate SCQF Level 6 and Core Skills SCQF Level 5. The Foundation
Apprenticeship in 2015-16 will be available to up to 26 senior phase students in S4/S5/S6,
including a dedicated group of 14 at the College’s Skills Centre of Excellence at Irvine Royal
Academy in North Ayrshire, and smaller cohorts who will infill classes at the College’s Ayr and
Kilmarnock campuses in South Ayrshire and East Ayrshire.
32. Progress will be made in 2015-16 to introduce HNC Engineering for senior phase pupils in
2016-17, further enhancing the range of vocational pathways available through school-college
partnerships.
Focus on STEM
33. The College will offer an enhanced range of STEM provision in 2015-16 in response to the
needs of the regional economy. In particular, responding to evidence from employers and
industry Skills Investment Plans, additional courses will be offered in engineering, computing,
automotive and science. A corresponding increase in Modern Apprenticeships wi ll be delivered
in these sectors in 2015-16.
34. Responding to the government’s recommendation to focus on STEM, the main developments
in 2015-16 include:
Introduce HNC Mechanical Engineering to mainstream provision
Introduce The Engineering Academy in conjunction with Strathclyde University
Further expansion of the aeronautical HNC course due to projected future demand
Roll out the Performing Engineering Operations (PEO) qualification for schools across
Ayrshire
Introduce an Engineering Foundation Apprenticeship for 14 senior pupils at the Irvine Skills
Centre of Excellence, and 6 pupils in each of the Ayr and Kilmarnock campuses.
2015-16 Addendum to Ayrshire College Outcome Agreement
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