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Widening Access: DYW lesson plans

Routes and pathways
BGE Second Level
A selection of lessons which help your primary pupils understand their options after school.
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Introduce your P6 and P7 pupils to the different routes they can take to a career with our lesson plans.

In line with the Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Strategy and the recommendations from the Commission for Widening Access, the lessons will introduce your pupils to the idea of further and higher education and apprenticeships.

Your pupils will also be encouraged to think about their skills and career aspirations.  

The lessons:

  • have been developed in partnership with Skills Development Scotland (SDS), the University of Glasgow Widening Participation team and Glasgow City Council
  • have been developed in consultation with primary school teachers
  • are linked to Career Management Skills, Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes and the Career Education Standard
  • include lesson plans, teacher guidance notes, presentations, handouts and suggested follow-up activities

Lesson 1 – What can I do when I leave school?

Learning intention

  • I will be able to identify different jobs and the qualifications that are needed for different career pathways.

Success criteria

  • I can identify the different jobs open to me.
  • I can understand the different qualification needed for different jobs. 

Before you start 

Resources 

  • ICT facilities
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Post-it notes/paper
  • Different Pathways handout

Duration

These are suggested timescales only and will vary dependent on your group: 

  • 45 minutes 

Suitable for

  • This lesson is suitable for Second Level.

Lesson 2a – What is a university?

Learning intention

  • I will be able to identify what a university is, who goes there and what you do there.

Success criteria

  • I can explain what a university is and who goes there.
  • I am aware that university is an option for anyone who wants to go there .

Before you start 

Resources 

  • ICT facilities 
  • PowerPoint presentation 
  • Paper 

Duration

These are suggested timescales only and will vary dependent on your group and how you choose to facilitate the activity:

  • 30 to 45 minutes 

Suitable for

  • This lesson is suitable for Second Level.

Lesson 2b – What is a college?

Learning intention

  • I will be able to identify what a college is, who goes there and what you do there.

Success criteria

  • I can explain what a college is and who goes there.
  • I am aware that college is an option for anyone who wants to go there.

Before you start 

Resources 

  • ICT facilities 
  • PowerPoint presentation 
  • Paper 

Duration

These are suggested timescales only and will vary dependent on your group and how you choose to facilitate the activity:

  • 30 to 45 minutes 

Suitable for

  • This lesson is suitable for Second level.

Lesson 2c – What is an apprenticeship?

Learning intention

  • I will be able to identify what an apprenticeship is, what it involves and who does them.

Success criteria

  • I can explain what an apprenticeship is.
  • I am aware that an apprenticeship is an option for anyone who wants to do one.

Before you start 

Resources 

  • ICT facilities 
  • PowerPoint presentation 
  • Paper 

Duration

These are suggested timescales only and will vary dependent on your group and how you choose to facilitate the activity:

  • 30 to 45 minutes 

Suitable for

  • This lesson is suitable for Second level.

Lesson 3 – Pick a job for me

Learning intention

  • I will be able to identify my own skills and strengths and identify a suitable career pathway based on these.

Success criteria

  • I can explain what skills and strengths I have and how these relate to what I want to do in the future.

Before you start 

Resources 

  • ICT facilities 
  • PowerPoint presentation 
  • Handouts

Duration

These are suggested timescales only and will vary dependent on your group and how you choose to facilitate the activity:

  • 45 minutes 

Suitable for

  • This lesson is suitable for Second level.

Lesson 4 – Future me

Learning intention

  • I will be able to identify a potential career pathway, express why I am interested in this job as well as why I am suited to it.

Success criteria

  • I can explain what job I want to do in the future and why I am suited to it.

Before you start 

Resources 

  • ICT facilities 
  • PowerPoint presentation 
  • Paper and resources to make a poster

Duration

These are suggested timescales only and will vary dependent on your group and how you choose to facilitate the activity:

  • 45 to 120 minutes 

Suitable for

  • This lesson is suitable for Second level.