education

The curriculum offered in The Good Shepherd Secure / Close Support Unit comprises key features in line with current developments within ‘The Curriculum for Excellence’.

These are:

  • Broad General Education (S1-S3)
  • Senior Phase Curriculum (S4-S6)
  • Eight Curriculum areas
  • SQA Awards
  • Five Core Skills
  • Personal Care Course
  • Personal Development Course
  • Distance Learning Courses
  • Enterprise
  • ASDAN
  • Duke of Edinburgh Award
  • HeartStart
  • Skills for Learning, Life & Work
  • Programmes

We are committed to ensuring all our young people receive their curriculum entitlements as outlined in ‘Building the Curriculum 3’. We see the young person at the centre, with a focus on Literacy, Numeracy, Health & Wellbeing and Skills. We endeavour to ensure our curriculum offers scope to allow our young people to extend their learning beyond subjects through interdisciplinary work and learning across a broad range of contexts.

Our curriculum incorporates a range of experiences and outcomes for young people and where possible, these are undertaken outwith the school setting (college; work experience placements; training centres) in order to support their progress and development.

GS_c-for-e1-sm.jpgOur curriculum is designed to support young people in a range of ways which maximise their potential and ensure they have opportunities to do well by making progress in the 8 Well-being Indicators identified in ‘Getting it Right for Every Child’. Our curriculum ensures all young people have opportunities to experience achievement, whilst at the same time develop their capacity to become Successful Learners; Confident Individuals; Responsible Citizens and Effective Contributors. See diagram 1 (right)

All curriculum areas offer nationally recognised qualifications available from SCQF levels 2 through to 6. Core Skills are skills which have been identified as essential for all young people in our society. All young people within the Good Shepherd are supported in gaining a full Core Skills profile.

GS_c-for-e2-sm.jpgOther National Qualifications offered focus on Personal, Social and Vocational Development. These include Personal Care, Personal Development, Working with Others, Work Experience and the National Progression Award in ‘Enterprise & Employability’. In addition to National Qualifications all young people will be invited to participate in recognised courses such as ASDAN, Duke of Edinburgh, Distance Learning Courses; HeartStart and Programmes. See diagram 2 (right)

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Vision Values & Aims

Our vision is to:

  • Be a school which is welcoming, joyful, supportive and safe
  • Ensure all our young people are achieving, healthy, active, safe, nurtured, included, respected and responsible
  • Promote high expectations and raise aspirations
  • Improve attainment and achievement outcomes for all our young people
  • Strive for educational excellence

Our values include:

  • Ensuring respect, wisdom, justice and integrity in all that we do
  • Putting young people first in all decisions which affect them
  • Promoting young people’s rights and responsibilities
  • Working in collaboration and cooperation with young people, their families and carers, and all who offer services to young people.

Our aims are to:

  • Re-engage and help our young people to achieve their full potential in each aspect of their development – educational, personal, social, emotional, physical and behavioural 
  • Provide learning experiences which are engaging, enjoyable, motivating and challenging and ensure all our young people achieve the capacities enshrined in ‘A Curriculum for Excellence’ 
  • Seek improvements in attainment and achievement and enable all our young people to experience success and to ensure that our young people’s needs with regard to their health and wellbeing are fully met
Initial Assessment

Every young person undertakes a comprehensive assessment to best determine their educational abilities, learning styles, interests and ambitions. Prior learning is taken into account to ensure that each young person can embark on a programme of work which is suited to their needs.

Achievement and Attainment

Our young people regularly and consistently have opportunities for personal achievements such as participation in the school film project, work experience, engaging in an enterprise project, college placements, sports events, distance learning, ASDAN and Duke of Edinburgh Awards. In addition, our young people have a high success rate in National Qualifications, often gaining their first ever qualification while placed here.

Skills for Learning, Life and Work

All young people are supported in developing higher order learning skills which they will use throughout their life, as well as the opportunity to put learning into a practical context. Young people are supported in acquiring and consolidating skills in numeracy, literacy and health & wellbeing which are skills essential to succeed in life.

Individualised Education

We offer an individualised programme of work incorporating personalisation and choice to each young person, allowing us to encourage and support him/ her in their interests and ensure the maximum educational benefit during their stay.