North Lanarkshire Council showcased its innovative approach and achievements in education today (Monday) when Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop MSP, visited three secondary schools in the area – her first ministerial visit to North Lanarkshire.

 

Ms Hyslop – who was accompanied by North Lanarkshire Council Leader, Councillor Jim McCabe and Executive Director of Learning & Leisure Services, Christine Pollock throughout her visit – spent time with pupils and staff at schools in Cumbernauld, Airdrie and Bellshill.

 

First stop was St Maurice's High in Cumbernauld, which is one of North Lanarkshire's four sports comprehensives – enhanced comprehensives designed to encourage school pupils, of all abilities, to take part in a wide variety of sports and recreational activities.

 

The Education Secretary visited the dedicated sports centre that opened at the school in 2006 and met some of the young people benefiting from the facilities it provides: a four-court sports hall, a fitness room with cardiovascular equipment and changing accommodation.

 

The sports comprehensive approach not only gives pupils – and the wider community – the opportunity to improve their physical health and well-being, the pupils also have the chance to take part in the Community Sports Leadership Award Programmes.  This helps pupils develop the skills needed to lead groups in safe sporting and recreational activities while gaining an accredited award.

 

The focus of the visit then turned to vocational education at St Margaret's High in Airdrie – where Ms Hyslop met staff and students participating in the school's vocational courses including beauty, construction and auto-mechanics – and Cardinal Newman High in Bellshill, where she visited the school's junior hospitality academy and enjoyed lunch (prepared by pupils participating in the Intermediate II course in Hospitality) in the award-winning Snapdragon restaurant.

 

North Lanarkshire Council's innovative vocational education programme is considered an example of best practice and offers S3 and S4 pupils the opportunity to experience real-life industries and, in most cases, achieve a recognised qualification. The majority of the programme is delivered within schools, in partnership with the three local colleges – Coatbridge, Cumbernauld and Motherwell – which provides a number of key benefits for both staff and pupils.

 

As a result, a number of specialist areas for construction, hairdressing/beauty therapy, call centres, hospitality and auto mechanics have been established within North Lanarkshire's secondary schools – including those visited by the Cabinet Secretary – to help deliver this innovative programme. 

 

Fiona Hyslop said: "During my visit to North Lanarkshire, I've visited the sports comprehensive at St Maurice's as well as having the chance to see vocational education in action at St Margaret's and Cardinal Newman. A highly skilled workforce is crucial to our vision of a sustainable and prosperous economic future for Scotland. That's why it's great to see so many pupils being given the chance to learn skills that will stand them in good stead for the future."

 

"We are delighted the Cabinet Secretary has had the opportunity to see first-hand the exciting and innovative ways in which we are raising achievement for all in North Lanarkshire's schools, whether it's in sport or in vocational education", said Councillor Jim McCabe, Leader of North Lanarkshire Council.

 

"And what's most important about this is that it is genuinely for all – not just those who are either exceptionally talented in one area or who are not making the grade academically. It's about delivering options and opportunities that benefit everyone. We are working to transform the school experience for our pupils, and there can be no doubt that we are achieving this on a daily basis.

 

"It is particularly pleasing that the Cabinet Secretary's visit follows in the wake of the report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on the quality and equity of schooling in Scotland, which not only recognises and endorses the "outstanding" approach to vocational education established by North Lanarkshire Council, but recommends to the Scottish Government that all local authorities go down the same route.

 

"We are very proud to be leading the way in education in Scotland and I am delighted that we have been able to show the Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning how we are doing just that in North Lanarkshire."

 

ends