Innovative DYW Robert Burns Skills Academy is officially open!

At the special event, Head Teacher Peter Gilchrist was joined by the Provost, Walter Smith, Business Ambassador DYW Ayrshire, Claire Baird, Chief Executive of the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and local elected members, Councillors Claire Leitch, William Lennox, Alyson Simmons, June Kyle and Neill Watts.

The Skills Academy will help to develop vocational, employability and life skills in the young people through structured projects, delivered within the curriculum and as part of the school timetable. The projects will help prepare them for the world of work either in the short term straight from school or in the medium to long term after further education.

The projects are delivered by either college lecturers or appropriately qualified and accredited teachers supported in a number of cases by external partners or individuals with knowledge, experience, and qualifications in the particular field of activity. The young people develop vocational, employability and life skills including the core skills referred to as the 6C’s and have the opportunity to gain accredited qualifications recognised by various sectors giving them equality of opportunity.      

Five exciting projects make up the Skills Academy:

• the ‘All Fired Up’ pottery
• ‘Barony Bespoke Bicycles’ – a maintenance and repair project
• ‘Barony Buttons’ – a fashion and textiles project
• ‘Bean and Gone’ – barista training project
• ‘Robert Burns Market Gardeners’ – a horticultural skills project

All five projects are funded by DYW and supported by Ayrshire College.

Provost Jim Todd said: “I was delighted to officially open The Robert Burns Skills Academy by cutting a ceremonial ribbon. It is so important to engage with our young people and to support brilliant projects like this that will help them to succeed and achieve.

“Vocational education has a very important role to play in helping our young people get ready for being in the workplace and I know the DYW Robert Burns Skills Academy is going to make a positive difference.”

Peter Gilchrist, Head Teacher of The Robert Burns Academy said: “The Skills Academy and the various innovative school projects, which make it up, are creating a real difference for our young people. It has allowed us to expand our curriculum and become focused on the importance of vocational education and how it helps improve our pupils’ chances of employment.

“It is really motivating for many of our learners to develop their core skills including confidence and communication and become more prepared for the world of work.”

Walter Smith MBE, DYW Ayrshire Business Ambassador said: “The implementation of the skills academy at The Robert Burns Academy is a key milestone in the development of vocational and employability skills for young people in the school environment. Significant results are being achieved in improved attainment, positive destinations and community involvement. But most importantly it’s providing equal opportunity for all.”