Skills for Work: Uniformed & Emergency Services (Schools)
***PLEASE NOTE - only pupils who will be at school during session 2026/27 can apply for this course***
Purposes and aims of the course
This National 4 Skills for Work Uniformed and Emergency Services course will provide opportunities to develop knowledge and generic employability skills in the context of the uniformed and emergency services. The sector includes the emergency services, armed forces and commercial uniformed organisations such as the Merchant Navy. The course will allow learners to start to develop the general and practical skills, knowledge and understanding and employability skills needed to work in the sector.
The knowledge and experiences acquired by learners will help to develop transferable employability skills and will also prepare them to work within the context of the uniformed and emergency services sectors within Scotland.
This course will run on Tuesday & Thursday 1.30pm - 3.30pm
Please note that the course you are applying for is split across two sessions. When submitting your application, the dates displayed will be for the June Induction in session 2025/26. Once successfully enrolled on this session, you will automatically be transferred to the 2026/27 session, which begins in August, for the remainder of the course.
Content
This course consists of four areas of study.
These are a general introduction to the Uniformed and Emergency Services, which will include guest speakers and external visists. Fitness, health and wellbeing which is an important aspect of the job roles within these services, for this area you will be taught by a fitness professional and have access to the gym facilities on campus. The other aspects of the course involve understanding how the services work as a team and how they work well in the communities they serve.
The varied content and diverse nature of the course will be interesting and relevant to finding out about a career choice or study within this area. This course will help you to understand the skills and requirements needed for specific job roles and explore the qualities, responsibilities and experiences required to work in these fields
Career Paths
- There are varied career pathways, these can vocational within the workplace within the job role or as part of structured study programme. There is onward study within further and higher education routes, such as Nursing Paramedic Sciences or within other emergency services such as the Fire Service, Police and Coastguard.
- There is also the commercial route of Merchant Nacy as well as the uniformed services such as Army, Royal Air Force or Royal Marines
Progression
- The course may also assist progression into further education and training/employment in the uniformed and emergency services sector.
- Progression is also via schools partnership courses related to Health and Social Care such as Level 5 Mental Health Award and Level 5 Health Sector Skills for Work.
- Also progression onto the full time sports courses
Entry requirements
- Pupils must express an interest in a career or futher study with uniformed or emergency services. This should be made clear on their personal statement.
- Working towards three Nat 4s or 5s, one of which should be English or a literacy based unit such as History/Modern studies this current academic session.
More Info
Further advice for School College Programme and Foundation Apprenticeship applications:
• Please ensure you have an online account before starting your application
• If you created your account prior to March 2025, you will need to register a new account
• Before starting the application process, please ensure you already hold or are working towards the relevant entry qualifications required for the course you are applying for
• Ensure you use your own personal email address when creating your online account
• Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automated email immediately
• If you do not receive an acknowledgement e-mail immediately, please check your SPAM/Junk folder
• Please include as much detail as possible in your personal statement such as; the reason you are applying, future career plans, relevant experience, hobbies and interests
• Disclosing support needs in your application will not affect your chances of being offered a place on a course at Forth Valley College
• If your application is successful, you will be invited to an information session
• If your application is unsuccessful, you should speak to a guidance teacher or SDS school liaison officer.
• If you are unable to attend the information session or wish to withdraw your application, please email the School Partnership team - school.partnership@forthvalley.ac.uk