9.30   Updates:  

• DYW /Careers information from Secondary School Inspections – John Laird (HMIe, Post 16)

• College Partnership Agreements – latest developments (Tom Hall, Colleges Scotland)

• Profiling Achievement Tool/ My WoW refresh (Derek Hawthorne, Skills Development Scotland)

• Curriculum design & industry collaboration:  

  • Management Construction of Galashiels Academy qualification - Pauline Anderson (HT - Galashiels Academy, Borders Council) see follow-up workshop below; tbc

  • Interdisciplinary Learning & DYW at Sorn Primary School (EAC):  A whole school approach to learning and skills development in collaboration with industry partners and the wider community.

• Curriculum Innovation Team (ES): Updates  (Leigh Watson)

• ‘Preparing Learners for the World of Work’ - discussion:  Review of workshop outcomes from the last meeting (12 March 24)
  

10.30  Focus session: 

Curriculum Improvement Cycle:  An exploration of the review of Scotland’s Curriculum – Ollie Bray (ES- Strategic Director – Curriculum, Pedagogy and Innovation)

11.00:  Comfort/Screen Break

11.10: Follow-up workshops:

Workshop 1: Galashiels Academy:  Management Construction Qualification (approx. 20 minutes)

When the diggers rolled in to build a new Galashiels Academy, teaching staff were keen for pupils to take advantage of the new learning environment that was right on their doorstep. Working with a host of partners, the building site soon became a classroom, with students working towards a qualification called 'Management Construction of Galashiels Academy';

In main room

Workshop 2:  Interdisciplinary Learning & DYW at Sorn Primary School (EAC):  A whole school approach in collaboration with industry partners and the wider community.

An exciting project based on redesigning the curriculum to promote educational and industry collaboration and enable children to develop transferable skills to support them in their journey of learning, life and work.

Click here to join this meeting

12.00 (approx.)   Close

Next DYW Leads Network Meeting: Thursday 19 Sept '24, 9.30 – 12.00.

• Implementation plans developed by different ‘sectors’ of the career ecosystem, including education, colleges, universities, Developing the Young Workforce, Skills Development Scotland, youth work services and local authority employability
• The Career Development Model which will underpin the delivery of future services, enabling individuals to more easily access experiences that meet their needs
• An outline approach to experiential career learning across different stages of education, designed to give learners the skills, agency and confidence to make decisions that are right for them
• Further details of the Career Services Collaborative through which those with an interest, direct or indirect, can work together to deliver the career services of the future 

• Audience: The guide is mainly written with college and university students in mind, but we are confident the signposting to many resources as well as the examples and approach to what green jobs are will  be relevant for people of all ages and backgrounds.

• Approach to green jobs: We don't "define" green jobs as such in this guide. We give a broad meaning of what green jobs are, refer to the Scotland definition, and then list different types of green jobs based on their nature or purpose, which feedback from students is suggesting to be very well received.

• Future of the guide: We are planning to keep updating this guide regularly, and find different ways to promote it. This guide mainly wants to help create understanding and signpost to the best resources - always happy to add and change things as they come up!

• To what extent is there an infrastructure to promote co-design in your contexts?

  
  

• How far do your course choice processes and timetabling arrangements support parity?

  
  

• In what ways could collaboration across settings and between stakeholders be improved to enhance the curriculum offer?

1. Local authorities should carefully monitor their strategic and implementation plans for improving attendance or develop a plan where one is not in place.

2. Put children and young people’s views at the centre of refreshed approaches.

3. Education Scotland working with stakeholders and partners should provide bespoke support for areas where improving levels of attendance remains a challenge.

4. Approaches to effective tracking and monitoring attendance should be collated and shared.

5. Education Scotland and Scottish Government should collaborate with the wider system to bring coherence to the work on improving attendance.

1. What works well?

2. Who supports it?

3. Where it isn’t working well, what are the barriers?

4. What are the gaps?

5. What more could be done to address the issues?

6. Who else needs to be involved?

Please use the following link for edits: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15XzDX7FhYMS28PpgXygTPEVXeV9NB_tL/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=100567703787047656612&rtpof=true&sd=true

9.30   Updates:  

• Education Reform: Curriculum Improvement Cycle (including Career Education) – progress update, Andrew Creamer (Education Scotland)

• Curriculum Innovation Team (ES): Updates - Graeme Wallace (Joan MacKay) (Education Scotland)

• Skills Development Scotland - support AY 24/25: Skills CPD, Meta Skills Toolkit/MS Land - Tom Harley (SDS)

• DYW Live: AY 24/25 Offer - Richard Tarves (eSgoil)

• Global Infrastructure and Built Environment Level 6 qualification, Midlothian offer (see also workshop session 1) - Neil Craik-Collins (QIM, Midlothian)

• Profiling Achievement Tool: Latest developments ( see also workshop session 2) - Derek Hawthorne (SDS)

  
  

10.30  Focus session: 

SQA updates 23/24: Work-based learning qualifications in the senior phase – Alasdair Smith & Marisa Farrell;

11.00:  Comfort/Screen Break

11.10: Follow-up workshops:

Workshop 1: Global Infrastructure and Built Environment Level 6 qualification, Midlothian offer - Neil Craik-Collins (QIM, Midlothian)

This qualification is designed for any young person pursuing a career in Architecture, Infrastructure, Engineering or Surveying. The course is being delivered across secondary schools in Midlothian this academic year and will thereafter also will be available to all Scottish schools in 25/26;

In main room

Workshop 2:  Profiling Achievement Tool - Derek Hawthorne (SDS)

Find out details about the new profiling tool (to be released in October) and how this may be used to support the capturing of achievement and skills in your educational context. .

Click here to join this meeting

12.00 (approx.)   Close

Next DYW Leads Network Meeting: Tuesday, 3 December '24, 9.30 – 12.00.

9.30   Updates:  

• Education Reform: Curriculum Improvement Cycle: Overview - Ollie Bray (Education Scotland)

• Curriculum Innovation Team (ES): Updates (Education Scotland)

• Labour Market Information: Web Resource; SDS Updates - Mark Steell (SDS)

• Rural Delivery Plan - Kate Anderson (Scottish Government)

• 10 Years DYW: Support pack - Michelle Fenwick (DYW Regional Employer Groups)

• Profiling Achievement Tool: Latest developments ( see also workshop session 2) - Stephanie Simeone (SDS)

• Work-based Learning Offer: Edinburgh City Council - Louise Frew (Edinburgh CC - Senior Development Officer Curriculum Pathways)

  
  

10.30  Focus session: 

Education Reform: Curriculum Improvement Cycle - (Career Education) – progress update (Education Scotland); Career Education 'Big Ideas': Feedback opportunity.

11.10:  Comfort/Screen Break

11.15: Follow-up discussions:

Discussion 1:

Reimagining (Reassessing, Redefining ) School-College Partnerships

Since the publication of the last School-College-Partnership-Report-2.pdf (cdn.ac.uk) in September 2021 the educational landscape has been changing significantly with a notable effect on the delivery of work-related and work-based learning qualifications.  This session provides a forum to discuss some of the challenges that both schools and colleges face in delivering meaningful, manageable high-quality technical and vocational qualifications that meet the educational and economic demands for learners across Scotland.  The session includes two college sector examples that provide constructive approaches in dealing with some of the challenges in this area.    

In main room

Discussion 2: 

Work-based Learning Offer: Edinburgh City Council - Louise Frew (Edinburgh CC - Senior Development Officer Curriculum Pathways)

Click here to join this discussion

12.00 (approx.)   Close

Next DYW Leads Network Meeting: Tuesday, 11 March '25, 9.30 – 12.00.

9.30 Welcome

Updates:

• National Profiling agenda (SDS/ES)

• CIC – Employer conversations:  feedback from engagements so far (ES)

• Positive leavers destination – latest data (SG)

• Apprenticeship Data – update (SDS, Abigail)

• Disclosure Scotland – update (Gareth Wilks)

• Day Dream Believers: New resources and opportunities (Helena Good)

• NHS Scotland– Remote Rural Schools Engagement  (Jo Haddrick)

10.00: Focus input:

Qualifications Reform – consultation (QS, - Emma Carey)

11.00   Screen break

11.10 Case Clinic: 

Curriculum development - Work-based learning and industry pathways @ Hawick High School

12.00:  Close

Next meeting: 2 June '26

Group 2:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QW_uLveWjmpPjK2yozc_MDHckklPiHe9jvuxTMJk6LU/edit?usp=sharing

Group 3: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cxNeJduJFU8JGWxDLaN7E4H2LAVOxdComHvv0PTeP98/edit?usp=sharing

Group 4: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11xNb0R_F3OriJjw7KHWtKDHm-74Aq8fAqaavGW_BlVw/edit?usp=sharing

Group 5: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19JcymJTsqRH-1UEw1X2fUo6Ip5dXQJX-qVaAqIh5Tlg/edit?usp=sharing

Group 6: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xVts9JKMVnZTkArWQ1W5Mbt-XBCV05E8gB2Gz4Cw3k8/edit?usp=sharing

Taylor Stewart <Taylor.Stewart@sds.co.uk>

Laura MacFadyen <laura.macfadyen@sds.co.uk>

·       Real passion from those in the land-based and aquaculture field resulting in a lot of initiatives and programmes in this field but there is a need to better connect with learners.

What new work on developing land-based and aquaculture pathways should we add to that identified in the review?

·       There is a project developed in Aberdeenshire working in partnership with SDS and SRUC working with 12 S3 pupils.

·       Project involved pupils designing a farm and the jobs on that farm.

·       Project designed to look at diversity in farming – how can a farm be as efficient as possible.

·       Part of projected also involved conducting industry visits – not just farm visits – to provide whole picture of sector – farm to plate.

·       9 of the 12 pupils now doing SRUC course – project was a pathway into this course.

What challenges, solutions and opportunities can we collectively identify? 

·       There is a need to co-design land-based projects to build in into other courses like engineering.

·       School have limited resources making it hard to build in time for staff to dedicate to projects or programmes to promote land-based and aquaculture learning in schools.

·       There is a still a view that pupils should not be pulled away from ‘traditional’ classes to take part in land-based programmes.

·       A lot of good programmes and good practices are happening across the country – it is important to tap into harness it all into a coordinated offering.

·       There is a real need to make land-based learning and working in the agri/aquaculture sector attractive to young people.

·       There is a real push for you people to pursue land-based and aquaculture learning through higher and further education – FA missing an opportunity for this sector.

·       There is a need to consider and develop land-based/agriculture FAs at Level 4 & 5.

·       There is a disconnect between – courses and the actual work on the ground.

·       Young people not involved in hands on practical work – which will be the gateway into the agriculture and aquaculture sector.

·       NPAs and other course pathways are online, making them more accessible, but that does not meet needs of learners. Learners need to be on the ground doing the practical work - leaners would benefit from such a hands-on approach.

·       Young people from working farms are more engaged in this area – it is difficult to recruit and engage children and young people who are not from farming families.

At the end of April, Plockton High School pupils dove into the world of salmon farming and the Blue Economy with Sea2Me – learning about everything from the egg to plate journey.

Kate Forbes MSP has welcomed the success of the programme that aims to inspire the next generation of aquaculture careers! 

Delivered by DYW West Highland, Salmon Scotland and Mowi Scotland, and supported by Kishorn Port Ltd and Lantra Scotland, the programme gave the pupils a hands-on experience of the journey from egg to plate – including a visit to Mowi Scotland’s seawater farm on Loch Duich and a tour of the impressive Kishorn Port Ltd facilities. 

With the various local aquaculture career options available to school pupils, projects like Sea2Me lets kids see for themselves the opportunities that are on their doorstep. 

A huge thanks to all involved in making Sea2Me such a success!

DYW West Highland | Salmon Scotland | Mowi Scotland |Kishorn Port Ltd | Lantra Scotland

9.30   Updates:  

• Education Reform: Curriculum Improvement Cycle: ‘Working Together to Make Change Happen’ – the development of a technical framework - Leigh Watson (Education Scotland)

• SDS Updates - Tom Harley (SDS)

• Updating School Inspections - John Laird (ES - HMIe)

• Career Collaborative & Support: Developments - Elspeth Hough (DYW Scottish Government)

• Exploring school-college partnerships for 14 - 18 learners in Scotland: Research - Dr Stephanie Thomson (University of Aberdeen)

  
  

10.20 Break

10.30  Focus session: 

Land-based and Aquaculture Learning Pathways: Stakeholder consultation

Background: 

Education Scotland and Scottish Government are reviewing the current evidence of land-based and aquaculture learning pathways as previously outlined in the Commission for the Land-based Leaning Review – Report to Ministers.  

 Our particular focus is the review of Recommendation 2.1 of the report which focuses on land-based and aquaculture learning pathways in the senior phase:  

“Identify ways to support an increase in Sector school/college partnership learning pathways, offered and undertaken by schools” 

 
Since the publication of the report in January 2024, significant educational and economic developments will have impacted on the progression of recommendations outlined in the report. In order to ascertain developments in this area, we are currently reviewing key information and data outline in section 4 of the report, with a wider view on pathways beyond the senior phase into further and higher education.     

Objective:

By considering current practice, we seek the views of the network on:

• What is currently working well around the development/delivery of land-based and aquaculture learning pathways and why?

• What new work on developing land-based and aquaculture pathways should we add to that identified in the review?

• What challenges, solutions and opportunities can we collectively identify?

 Key findings of this exercise will feed into an update paper on recommendation 2.1.

Format

• 10.30 – Setting the Scene: 

  • Louise Hellyer - Senior Policy Advisor (SG, Rural Skills & Land Use)

  • Presentation from key stakeholders: Lantra, SQA, NatureScot, SDS, Aberdeenshire Council;

• 11.15 – Group discussions:

  • What is currently working well around the development/delivery of land-based and aquaculture learning pathways and why?

  • What new work on developing land-based and aquaculture pathways should we add to that identified in the review?

  • What challenges, solutions and opportunities can we collectively identify?

• 11.45:  Plenary - feedback from discussion groups

12.00 (approx.)   Close

Next DYW Leads Network Meeting: Tuesday, 16 September '25, 9.30 – 12.00.

1. Rapidly growing numbers of students are uncertain about their career plans....................................

2. Students’ job plans focus on a small number of predominantly professional occupations .........

3. Many students are confused about what they need to do to achieve their career plans.

4. Overwhelmingly, social background is a stronger determinant of plans for tertiary

education ...........

5. Too few students are participating in career development activities ......................

Financial services are all about people. No matter what stage you’re at in your education or your career, our sector offers opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. It’s all about skills!

Any questions or feedback on the resource please contact Sara Votta <svotta@sfe.org.uk>

9.30 Welcome

9.35 Focus inputs:

• SDS research outcomes: Pupil voice on the perception of skills and careers (Pat Watt & Debbie Pavia) - 25 mins;

• Discussion:  Qualifications Reform (Emma Carey, Marisa Farrell) Qualifications Scotland/SQA) - 30 mins;

10.30   Screen break (5 mins)

10.35  Workshop: 

Curriculum Improvement Cycle updates and discussions

Careers and Pathways across the Curriculum – DYW/Employer perspectives (Education Scotland - Lise Mccaffery, Leigh Watson, Klaus Mayer)

11.20 Screen break (10 mins)

11.30 Updates:

• Profiling Tool – updates:  Local authority dashboard (Derek Hawthorne, SDS)

• HMIe:  Future of School Inspections – John Laird (HMIe)

• Disclosure Scotland – Stewart Rafferty (Disclosure Scotland)

12.00:  Close

Please note:  Diary holds for the academic year 2026 will be sent after this meeting.

Slides from launch webinar

School Opt In Form

How do they stand up against the following criteria?

•Ambition

•Relevance

•Motivating

Are learners getting the right experiences from these qualifications?

What are the biggest skills gaps you see?

The publication features the latest SDS Apprentice Voice results, apprentice employer insight and labour market research.

To reinforce the quality of the apprenticeship offer and their delivery, the publication also sets out how SDS draws from a range of external and operational evidence, data and insight to deliver apprenticeships.

It also explains the employer led approach to development of apprenticeships, to ensure that apprenticeship standards and frameworks are more agile and responsive to reflect what work looks like today and in the future.

The publication is a valuable tool to share with partners, employers and politicians to help explain the strength and value of the apprenticeship offer in Scotland.

This text does not yet reflect feedback received. Comments can be sent to gareth.wilks@disclosurescotland.gov.scot & stewart.rafferty@disclosurescotland.gov.scot.

Stacey.Grieve@scotborders.gov.uk

Dates: August 2026 & June 2027

For more information email dh.education@kings-foundation.org

9.30 Welcome

9.35 Updates:

• Curriculum Improvement Cycle – Update (Education Scotland)

• Digital Skills Framework for schools (Debbie McCutcheon and Roz Denham SDS) (5 mins)

• Discolsure Scotland:  Revised PVG Guidance – Gareth Wilks (15 mins)

• DYW – updated Employer Network Website (Michelle Fenwick)

• Youth employment and leavers statistics (positive destinations)  - SG Data Analytics Team (tbc – Shumirai Mhonda-kapora)

• Scottish Careers Collaborative: Updated (Elma Murray)

• Foundation Apprenticeships: Revised Principles (Frank Quinn, SDS)

10.25 Screen Break

10.35 Focus inputs:

FI 1:

Technical Vocation Qualifications statistics for AY 25/26 and development of future of qualifications (Emma Carey / Alasdair Smith)

FI 2:

CIC – Consultation on Draft National Practice Guidance:  Careers & pathways context (Klaus Mayer)

11.20   Screen break

11.25

FT 3:

SDS Data: Young Peoples' Career Ambitions Research & Q&A

12.00:  Close

Next meeting: 8 December '26

More resources under: Educator – Academy9

he intention is that the draft new school framework will be launched in January 2027.

HMIE aim for this framework to be digital, enabling updates to be made more easily, and to enable links to relevant national policy and guidance to be included.

Pilot inspections to test the new framework will take place in spring 2027 to ensure that the content supports self-evaluation and inspection.

Pilot inspections to try out new methodology using the new framework will take place from the summer term 2027 and into session 2027/28. Depending on the outcome of the pilots, the intention is that the new framework and model will be used for all school inspections from January 2028.

What are the enablers that ensure careers education becomes a

universal experience in schools?

Aberdeenshire’s FAs 2025–26- Increased attendance, engagement, confidence and wellbeing

Aberdeenshire’s FAs 2025–26- Parental Feedback Overview

Aberdeenshire’s FAs 2025–26- Parental Feedback on Behaviour

We believe the straw man model lays a strong foundation for further engagement and refinement. To ensure this model truly meets the needs of everyone involved, your feedback is vital. We would greatly appreciate it if you could review the proposed model and share your thoughts by completing this online consultation.

Please note that the deadline for submitting your input is noon on Friday, 12th June. Your participation will be instrumental in shaping a model that benefits learners and professionals across Scotland.

9.30 Welcome

Introduction: Donna McMaster - CEO Education Scotland

9.45 Updates:

• Curriculum Improvement Cycle – Update (Education Scotland)

• Exploring School-college partnerships for 14-18 learners in Scotland - Nuffield Foundation (Dr Stephanie Thomson - University of Aberdeen)

• Foundation Apprenticeships (Abigail Kinsella, Frank Quinn (SDS), Andrew Ritchie (Aberdeenshire Council)

• New Inspection Model and 16+ Team approaches (Stephen McGregor, HMIe)

• Qualification Scotland – updates on qualification reform of vocational and technical qualifications in the senior phase (Emma Carey, Qualifications Scotland)

• Disclosure Scotland – update (Gareth Wilks)

10.20 Screen Break

10.30 Focus input:

The Scottish Careers Collaborative – Elma Murray and James Russell

11.30   Screen break

11.35 Case Clinic: A new Skills Model for Scotland 

Overview of the new proposed structure and network dialogue (Lee-Anne Murray, Qualifications Scotland);

12.00:  Close

Next meeting: 10 September '26

Join us to discover how you can get onboard and help shape the future of education, skills, and opportunity for the next generation!

The Infrastructure Pathway

You are cordially invited to attend an in-person event at Adam Smith's Panmure House.

The event will take place on October 19, 2026 at 11 AM - 1:30PM - light lunch

The Infrastructure Pathway Tickets, Monday 19 October  •  11 AM - 1:30 PM | Eventbrite