Employment

Wallace High School’s project was an event on European Day of Languages for all S3 pupils to demonstrate, motivate and involve them in a variety of experiences with different languages, to see the value of languages and to increase uptake. This built on existing links with local partners such as the Wallace Monument and Historic Environment Scotland. Many other guest speakers demonstrated the use of languages in their careers to encourage pupils with other interests to consider languages for their future choices. A Keynote speaker (Andy Macleod – a past pupil and ParaOlympian) spoke to all S3, following which pupils were led to different spaces for their workshops by our Senior Languages Ambassadors. Activities included learning BSL, learning Gaelic, learning Mandarin, Historic Scotland and the Wallace Monument, activities led by the Languages Ambassadors at Stirling University, dance workshop led by school Dance Captains to learn merengue and salsa, and crêpe making, kindly provided by Tesco. 

To go alongside the live event, the school has also developed a Virtual Open Doors Google Site which parents and pupils can access in their free time with a variety of recorded talks from other contacts to highlight how Languages open doors.

We were delighted to receive this submission from Wallace High School and are equally delighted to award it a BRONZE Scottish Languages Employability Award – congratulations! 

This submission is based on what is clearly a very successful employability event aimed at engaging S3 learners with the value of languages to their future careers. The verification team was impressed by the range and relevance of partners involved and by the variety of languages featured, including BSL – this is the first time that BSL has featured in a Scottish Languages Employability award submission!

The website that has been developed in tandem with this event is also a valuable resource, allowing all year groups to access key employability information.