Preface
In 2005, SQA and partners introduced pilot Skills for Work Courses,
primarily aimed at young people aged 14–16 in schools and schoolcollege
partnerships. The pilots were introduced successfully to a tight
schedule, and SQA has a development programme to increase the
number of these Courses year on year. It is now a good time to take stock
and assess the issues in their further development and delivery in
Scotland.
This paper reviews the strategic issues relating to the further
development of Skills for Work. It draws on interviews with
stakeholders, discussions with SQA officers, a literature review, and the
authors’ own experience (as researchers and participants) of related
developments in Scotland and elsewhere. However, it is an issues paper,
not a research paper; it does not evaluate Skills for Work or judge its
success. It focuses on strategic issues, rather than operational or
implementation issues, and it seeks to place Skills for Work in the
context of wider developments in Scottish education. An earlier version
of the paper was presented at a seminar on 1 June 2007 attended by key
figures from the school and college sectors, and representatives of
stakeholder groups including parents and employers, public agencies and
national and local policy makers. The presentation to the seminar is
Appendix 1, and the paper incorporates comments expressed at the
seminar.