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DEVELOPING THE
YOUNG WORKFORCE

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Staff Members

  • L. MacMillan – DYW Lead

Introduction

Developing Young Workforce work is led in Belmont Academy by Laura MacMillan (Principal Teacher DYW) who has been in post since October 2017 and does this alongside her role as Music teacher in the school.

Innovative School Projects

In the past five years the school has introduced Innovative School Projects with external funding support from DYW Ayrshire and Prince’s Trust Ayrshire. These projects have allowed our young people to develop skills beyond the traditional classroom and gain industry recognised qualifications. Our Innovative School Projects are:

 

  • Bee Glam Beauty Bar – initially was a Nail Bar but has now extended to cover skin care, hair and make-up too *

  • Bee Happy Café – barista and customer service class *

  • Bee Leaf – our Rural Skills class led by Mr Aitken (Principal Teacher of Geography) and SRUC

  • Busy Bees Childcare – childcare class

  • Bee Fresh – our enterprise iced coffee, smoothie and milkshake project run in conjunction with Bee Happy Café *

 

*This innovative school project is delivered in Belmont Academy by Ayrshire College lecturers

SCQF

In December 2018 Belmont Academy became the 50th school in Scotland to become an SCQF Ambassador school and in February 2022 we successfully upgraded our status to Bronze level. After reflection on the additional pathways and learning experiences we offer young people and the partnerships we have forged over the years with local businesses and Ayrshire College; we re-applied and were granted Silver status in September 2022.

 

A team of SCQF Pupil Ambassadors work alongside Miss MacMillan to raise awareness of the SCQF Framework and the wide range of subjects available to study in Belmont Academy. This has helped young people make informed choices when it comes to selecting subjects S2 and above and assisted many young people to consider a variety of pathways and possibilities as they prepare for life, learning and work beyond Belmont. Look out for the SCQF Ambassador stand at parents’ evenings and whole school events.

Learning Opportunities & Trips

Our young people have had opportunities to learn and develop their knowledge & skills on many DYW trips and events beyond the classroom including:

 

  • STEM Aerospace Event at Prestwick Airport

  • Countryside Careers at Dumfries House

  • Spirit Aerosystems

  • UWS Foundation Academy

  • Ayrshire College Hospitality Skills and Sector awareness

  • Composing Workshop for Music pupils by Belmont alumni and established composer Gillian Walker

  • SkyPath & Collins Aerospace Trip

  • National School and College Leavers Show – Glasgow

  • Wild Oyster Project

  • Workshop and information session about UWS Commercial Music with Jim Prime (Deacon Blue)

  • Zoolab

 

We also are grateful to the many businesses and charities that visit us and offer learning experiences in our school.

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