The Learner Journey Approach

This approach seeks to support partners working with learners of all ages to develop meta-skills. This alongside knowledge and qualifications will help them enter and thrive in the world of work.

The hope of all the partners is for our young people to fully engage in their own skills development, and in doing so, articulate their skills and achievements, to build an effective personal profile.

On Monday 29^th May local employers, staff from Carnoustie and Monifieth High School along with representatives from their cluster primary schools, Education Scotland and SDS gathered at Monifieth High School. This was to participate in a collaborative CPD (Continuing Professional Development) opportunity with primary and secondary schools, DYW, SDS, Dundee and Angus College, and employers to explore how together they can support a consistent and continuous learner journey approach to meaningful skills development. The keynote speaker for the event was Kevin Kelman from NHS Scotland and he was joined by guest speakers, Neve Barratt from NHS Scotland and Fiona Thain and Emma Oram from Angus Council.

Angus Council’s Convenor of Children and Learning, Cllr Lynne Devine said, “I’m delighted to see the council and key local partners coming together for this collaborative event to explore how we can all support young people to be lifelong learners. Learning and developing the right skills and capabilities is key to helping our young people stay ahead in an ever-evolving landscape and reach their potential.”

Partners in Angus are working together to develop a more consistent and continuous approach to supporting learners across the authority to recognise, capture and articulate their skills. Making skills overt in everyday learning and teaching in primary school, throughout secondary, and across all college learning environments will deepen the learning experience of our young people and better equip them with the skills that they will need for life, learning, and work.

Karen Watson Education Executive for SDS shared, “Skills, and their development, are increasingly recognised as critical alongside knowledge and qualifications to enable learners to successfully enter and thrive in the future, uncertain and volatile world of work. I am delighted to be able to contribute to this innovative partnership event where teaching practitioners, employers, and other key partners have an opportunity to discuss and share current practices and how they can be built on and enhanced to benefit all young people in Angus.”

The event provided an opportunity to share experiences from an employer’s perspective where skills development can be made more explicit in both schools and colleges.

“Dundee and Angus College’s Kirsty Paterson - Head of Sector for Business, Access, and Education said, “Dundee and Angus College strives to embed meta-skills awareness, development, and enhancement as part of every learner’s educational journey. We are delighted to be working with our colleagues in both primary and secondary schools along with SDS and our local employers to provide that joined-up approach to skills development within the region”.