Island Legacy Helps Pupils learn about careers

Pupils undertake experiences to help them develop skills and learn about careers as part of Island Legacy.

A pilot project to help young people access experiential careers learning has recently been undertaken in Orkney.

​In May, second year pupils at Kirkwall Grammar School took part in ‘Island Legacy’ which was part of a Skills Challenge Pilot developed by Skills Development Scotland in response to the 2023 Careers Review, and the recommendation that schools offer experiential careers learning which is practical, work-related and skills focused.

Established as a co-design project, the partnership initiative included Kirkwall Grammar School, Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Orkney and the local Skills Development Scotland team.

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Six second year pupils from Kirkwall Grammar School were involved with the co-design and during a two-day process in January, they came up with a concept for the type of careers learning they would like to take part in.  This was presented to teachers, Careers Advisers, DYW Orkney staff and an employer representative from NFU Scotland Orkney Branch, who took the concept and developed it into the final pilot event.

The school’s involvement was led by the Design and Technology Department, with teachers Stuart Woodrow and Rebecca Reid involved from the start of the project and instrumental in the final concept and pilot delivery.

Stuart Woodrow, Principal Teacher of Design and Technology, explains:  “During the co-design process, pupils came up with the idea that they were stranded on an island and they undertook activities to help them escape.  We took this concept and developed it into ‘Legacy Island’, a choose your own adventure game, where pupils were stranded on an island and, working in teams, had to try and escape, or remain, survive and thrive.

“During the game, they move around the island gathering resources, encountering obstacles or gaining advantages as they try to escape or remain and build a community.  It has been fantastic to be involved with this pilot project, working with pupils and partner agencies to develop the final event and then seeing how pupils embraced the activity.”

‘Island Legacy’ was delivered over two days in the St Andrews Hall, Tankerness, with half the year group coming on each day.  Pupils were split into ten teams and competed against one another to gain the most points, aiming to be crowned the winner.

Alongside the game, pupils took part in five experiences which helped them to develop transferrable skills and explore a variety of careers.  Each experience had a competitive element and the points gained could be used to buy resources and help their progress in the game.

The experiences pupils took part in were delivered by the UHI STEM Co-ordinator, the Moredun Institute, staff from Skills Development Scotland and DYW Orkney.  Some of the experiences delivered included an engineering challenge to build a communication tower, a STEM activity to identify and manage disease in animals and a design activity to create a flag for their team, communicating what their team represented.  Pupils also took part in team-building activities to help with their team-working, problem solving and communication skills.

DYW Orkney Project Manager, Rachel Scarth, said:  “During the co-design sessions at the start of the year, pupils gave us an idea of the type of careers and sectors they would like to learn more about, and we used this as the basis for the experiences we organised.  The partners we worked with took part enthusiastically and developed engaging activities that the pupils enjoyed taking part in, and we’re really grateful to them for their input.

“The whole event was a fantastic opportunity for pupils to develop transferrable skills and explore careers in a fun way.  It was brilliant to include pupils in the co-design phase and then see their ideas delivered on the day thanks to the enthusiasm and commitment of Stuart and Rebecca to developing the game element.”

The pilot has been supported by inputs from local Skills Development Scotland Careers Advisers who have worked with pupils before and after the event to help them identify the skills they have developed.

Amanda Spence, Team Leader for Skills Development Scotland in Orkney said:  “Orkney is one of three areas who were selected to take part in the Skills Challenge Pilot and local Careers Advisers have been involved with the development and delivery of the final concept.  They have also been working with pupils before and after the pilot to help them reflect on the experience and understand how the activities contributed to the development of their meta-skills, and how they can be used as they progress through school and into work.”