Skill Force Development
About Skill Force
Skill Force is an educational charity supported by the department for Education
and Skills and The Scottish Executive, which offers 14 to 16 year old students a
core skills based vocational alternative to the traditional educational
curriculum.
Skill Force is delivered by former armed forces instructors with appropriate
military or civilian qualifications. Students selected for Skill Force will
participate on the course along side their standard grades which equates to
around two half days of instruction per week. The programme takes place within
school hours and operates under school rules.
The Aim of the course
The aim of the course is to develop citizenship and improve the employability of
the students in addition to helping them achieve their full potential.
How we go about it
This version of our programme will continue for another year and is based around
work related learning, which future employers recognise. The programme is
principally based upon the ASDAN Certificate of Personal Effectiveness core
skills award, and utilises other awards, certificates and qualifications
including the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award and the St Andrews Ambulance
Emergency First Aid Certificate. There is also a requirement to attend an
overnight practice expedition and an overnight assessed expedition (normally
around September and April) in order to achieve the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze
Award.
Who do we want on the course?
There is no typical Skill Force student, however we are looking for students who
will participate and get involved in every part of the programme, and are
willing to put in the effort in other aspects of their school life.
The Awards
ASDAN (Certificate of Personal Effectiveness): Each award contains a choice of
challenges which will encourage the student to become more skilled in the
following areas:
- Working with others
- Problem solving
- Improving own learning
- Oral presentations
- Discussions
- Researching a topic
These skills are commonly known as core skills. These skills are highly valued
by employers and institutions of further and higher education, and will help
students make the best of employment and training opportunities.
Duke of Edinburgh (Bronze): The Duke of Edinburgh's Award aims to provide
participants with an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding programme of personal
development. It includes the following sections, all of which require to be
completed to achieve the award.
- Physical recreation section (24hrs over a 6 month period)
- Skills section ( learn a new skill 12 hrs over 3 months)
- Service section ( provide a service to your community 12hrs over 3 months)
- Expedition section (2 expeditions to be carried out, walking 15 miles and camp
overnight).
St Andrews First Aid Award: Students as part of the Skill Force programme will
undertake first aid training. This achieves two things. Firstly qualifying for
the St Andrews Ambulance Emergency First Aid Certificate, and secondly after 12
hours training meets the requirement of the service section of the Duke of
Edinburgh's Bronze Award.
I do hope this provides you with more information concerning Skill Force and our
programme of study. If you have any further queries please feel free to contact
Skill Force on:
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