Alternative Curriculum (Schools)
***PLEASE NOTE - only pupils who will be at school during session 2026/27 can apply for this course***
ACE is a college taster course designed for pupils in S4/5 who are having difficulty engaging or attending school. Our aim is to engage pupils in a positive learning experience and ideally allow pupils to gain some SQA accredited units for subjects they will undertake at college.
The overall emphaisis of the programme is introducing pupils into a structured learning environment, to work with others, explore different subjects and become familiar and confident in the college environment.
This course will run on Wednesday & Thursday 9am - 1pm and Friday 9am -11am at Alloa
This course will run on Wednesday 9am - 4pm & Thursday 9am -1pm at Falkirk
Enrolment onto this course is made through referrals from the school, so please contact your Support for Learning department for more details.
Content
- The curriculum currently includes health and wellbeing, cookery, art and workshop skills. The classes are therefore very practical and allow pupils the opportunity of exploring different subject areas with a view to finding a progression route that is right for them
Progression
- ACE pupils will typically progress onto our Pathfinder programme, which is an access level course at SCQF level 4, this again provides taster classes across a number of subjects, whilst also providing Core Skills to help students to continue to develop their Communication, Numeracy & ICT skills.
- Pupils who are with us in the August to January cohort can also consider one of our New Start courses – Care & Communities, Creative Industries or Introduction to Construction Craft. They run from January to June and are aimed at learners who want to experience a range of academic and vocational subjects whilst simultaneously improving their core skills. Learners will also attend workshops which will facilitate personal development.
- Alternatively, if pupils find from doing the course that college is not for them then they can be signposted to Employment Training Unit or other partnership agencies like Link living, Cyrenians or Go Youth Trust to help pupils transiton from school into a positive destination.
Entry requirements
- Referal from school
- Pupils must be S4 or S5
- No formal entry requirements, however we do expect those who wish to apply to this course to be motivated and keen to embrace the college environment.
Alloa Campus
17 August 2026
Level 5
Falkirk Campus
19 August 2026
Level 3