PUPILS, who are amongst the first in the country to complete a Foundation Apprenticeship, have been recognised at a special ceremony held at Lochgelly High School on Friday.

The group of 25 pupils, of which 12 attended the event, have completed the Foundation Apprenticeship in Engineering, giving them qualifications and skills previously only available once they had left school.

Foundation Apprenticeships were introduced two years ago by Skills Development Scotland (SDS), in partnership with Fife College and Fife Council, and are designed to equip young people with the skills they need, and employers want. As a result of the Foundation Apprenticeship piloted by Fife College, the programme is now being rolled out to schools across Scotland, in a wider range of subjects.

Janet McCauslin, Director of Projects at Fife College, opened the event by welcoming the pupils, their families and staff. Representatives from Fife Council and local engineering companies involved in delivering the work-based elements of the apprenticeship also attended.

Emma Scott from Lochgelly has enjoyed being on the Foundation Apprenticeship Programme and said: “I heard about the Programme at school and thought it would really help me. It will look great on my CV and shows I’m committed to my future career.

“I’ve enjoyed the work and the environment. On this course you’re given more space to work on your own and you’re treated more like an adult. I’ve learned a lot – it’s not all machinery, there are a lot of technical drawing skills to master on the course which has been great for me. I would recommend it to everyone and especially encourage girls to give it a try".

She added: “I’d really like to be an architect – my Highers and my Foundation Apprenticeship in engineering have enabled me to secure a place at Dundee University to study architecture which I’m looking forward to starting in September.”

Hugh Logan, Principal at Fife College said: “Foundation Apprenticeships are new and innovative work-based learning pathways to careers for young people.

“We are delighted to be one of the first Colleges to work with SDS in launching this exciting initiative. It is something very special and ground breaking and it was fantastic to see the first pupils graduate from the programme today.

“Thanks to a great partnership team we are opening up wider opportunities for secondary pupils in Fife and beyond which will have a positive effect on meeting the skills demands of industry while giving our young people the best possible start in their future careers.”

The Foundation Apprenticeship Programme aims to ensure that by the time pupils leave school, they will have completed a nationally recognised qualification which makes up a significant part of a Modern Apprenticeship (MA) and will also have gained some workplace experience to enhance their skills for future job applications. The qualification is valuable to those who go on to do a Modern Apprenticeship or to move on to college, university or employment.

Graduates at the ceremony found out that, thanks to gaining a Foundation Apprenticeship, they are eligible to be nominated for a Foundation Apprentice of the Year Award – a new category introduced into this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Awards. Pupils will be nominated through their school and the awards event will be held in Edinburgh on November 3. www.apprenticeships.scot/awards.