Despite the challenges of lockdown restrictions, Forth Valley College’s Engineering Department have announced their highest Foundation Apprenticeship achievement rates to date.
A total of 26 high school pupils in the Forth Valley area who attended the college two days-a-week to study for their Engineering FAs, have successfully completed their qualification. Two others who took the course, have a further opportunity to achieve their FA if they attend a second catch-up day on August 9
Dougie Ross, Curriculum Manager in FVC’s Department of Science and Engineering, who is pictured here in the Falkirk Campus Engineering workshop with Alva Academy teacher Ben McKinley and a former successful Engineering FA Brodie Robertson from (2020), said: “Despite all the challenges put in front of students and staff this year by the pandemic lockdown, we have had the highest ever number of pupils achieving their full FA in Engineering.
“My colleagues Emma Bryce, Jamie Crookston and Gordon McLeod have spent hours upon hours of additional time supporting and encouraging the students to succeed, as well as their timetabled classes and this should not go unnoticed.
“I would also like to highlight the excellent role that Lorna Gow FVC School Partnership Officer provides for the Science and Engineering Department. We have a planned weekly meeting on a Monday which has now turned into two or three Teams calls to each other every day. She has built stronger relationships with FVC and the schools as well as dealing with all the problems with arranging transport form the schools to FVC. A big well done to everyone.”
Helen Young, Head of Learning and Quality at FVC, said: “These Engineering FA figures are excellent. Dougie and his team should be very proud of themselves for helping so many high school pupils to complete their courses during such a difficult period of their studies. They should be very proud of themselves.”
Forth Valley College’s range of Foundation Apprenticeships offer pupils from local schools the opportunity to help them progress towards a Modern Apprenticeship (MA) while still at school, gaining the skills and experience that employers need.
These innovative programmes, being offered in partnership with Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire schools, link senior school pupils with local employers and aims to help them to build their future careers. Upon completion of a Foundation Apprenticeship pupils can progress onto a Modern Apprenticeship, college study or a university degree.
As well as the Construction and Hospitality pilot Foundation Apprenticeships, Foundation Apprenticeships at SCQF Level 6 are available in Social Services and Healthcare; Social Services Children and Young People; Business Skills; IT Hardware System Support ; Engineering; Accountancy; Civil Engineering; Creative and Digital Media; IT Software Development; and Scientific Technologies (Laboratory Skills).
For more information on Foundation Apprenticeships at Forth Valley College click here