Newlands Junior College: the Curriculum
A summary
Newlands Junior College (NJC) is designed to provide a unique type of
education suited to the particular needs of young people who are in
danger of becoming disengaged from formal education but who have the
potential to become useful contributors to society.
At the junior college, all students will experience a curriculum designed
around three main strands:
1. an academic curriculum focused on key skills,
2. vocational education, and
3. experiences designed to enhance motivation and personal
development.
The emphasis on vocational education and personal development is the
distinguishing feature of the NJC curriculum. It is seen as the essential
precondition if young people at serious risk of failure and disaffection are
to be motivated and re-engaged.
The academic curriculum will focus on four vital curriculum areas –
English, mathematics, science and information technology. These will
be offered as discrete subjects although every effort will be made to
establish connections among them. All students will have the
opportunity to achieve National awards at levels 4 or 5. Other curricular
areas will be covered through interdisciplinary studies.
There will be a focus on project-based learning and extensive use of new
technology. The approaches adopted will be aimed at engaging the
interest of students who have not experienced success and enjoyment in
the mainstream system.
Vocational education will be undertaken in collaboration both with the
college sector and with a private sector partner. Students will have a
choice of college courses aimed at achieving a range of vocational
qualifications. The City of Glasgow College will offer courses in
engineering, construction, hospitality, office administration and graphic
design. In addition the training arm of Arnold Clark will offer a further
selection of training opportunities within a workplace training
environment.
A further vocational element will also serve to broaden students’
experience. Music technology can be offered through the Riverside
Studios in Busby. As well as potentially giving access to an expanding
area of employment, this will serve to extend the range of the curriculum
into the expressive arts.
The full range of vocational opportunities is intended to provide attractive
choices to students, whatever their interests, and to both boys and girls.
All students will follow three vocational courses which will be
certificated at National 4 and 5 levels.
Motivation and Personal Development are critical to success. A
certificated two-year course will be provided by SkillForce Scotland to
develop personal and life skills. There will be an emphasis on positive
attitudes and motivation. Mentoring and personal support are important
aspects of this course and, indeed, of the whole NJC experience. Partners
and sponsors will be asked to encourage employees to serve as role
models and mentors.
A further course will focus on nutrition and health. Physical education
and sport will also form part of this strand and of the obligatory extra
curricular experience offered by NJC. In addition, all students will be
involved in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, again partly as an
extra curricular activity.
Another factor in developing motivation will be an emphasis on skills for
learning, life and work. Young people’s progress in relation to skills
development will be recorded in ways that will assist them in moving to
positive destinations. The purpose of each piece of learning will be
shared with students. They will be helped to see how every part of the
curriculum contributes to making them more employable and more
personally effective.
A critical aspect of the NJC experience will be the close personal support
provided for each individual. The quality of relationships will be a key to
success.