Employment

The vast range of high-quality projects that made up this submission from Elgin Academy is difficult to summarise! Employability is interwoven through the curriculum of all year groups in a tangible, real-life way. Some examples of this include: 

• S1 unit of work welcoming guests from the target language country to a partner hotel and eliciting personal information 
• S1 units of work on topics such as house/home and leisure are focused around the hotel through visits, videos etc 
• A brochure competition using all of the information and language learned 
• S2 units on food and healthy eating link to a partner restaurant 
• Menu and serving vocabulary is prepared by learners for the restaurant 
• Restaurant role-plays form part of learner practice and restaurant training 
• S2 unit on First Aid skills and emergency survival taught through the target languages 
• S3 homework tasks based on SCILT job videos 
• S3 careers event with visiting speakers from a range of local and international businesses and organisations 
• S6 primary teaching experience 
• Training as volunteer tour guides through the National Trust for Scotland.  

The verification team commended this outstanding submission from Elgin Academy in the highest terms. Through the determination and dedication of the Principal Teacher, and the working together of the department, a strong and meaningful programme of employability has been incorporated naturally throughout the languages curriculum at all ages and stages. High quality work has been developed for well over a decade in order to achieve an excellent employability provision throughout all stages and languages.  

As well as an outstanding all-round experience, the team noted in particular the close partnership with cluster primaries, building transition working, and excellent work with a range of employers and organisations.   

It is no surprise that learners and parents at Elgin Academy appreciate the engaging and relevant curriculum that they experience, and that other schools at home and abroad are benefitting from these ideas.