Taking the pathway to success
Pathways benefits a range of pupils. Tim Woodcock Oban High deputy head
AN OBAN High School pupil, who only arrived in Scotland seven years ago unable to speak English, has won a prestigious prize.
Natalia Chmielecka has been recognised in an innovative programme to help Oban high pupils into work. The Pathways project has seen prizes awarded to the top performing participants – with Natalia chosen as the outstanding student of the year.
Pathways, which has been running for eight years, recognised the top contributors from among the students – and won praise from school deputy head Tim Woodcock.
Natalia came to Oban from Poland and could not speak any English.
Now she has four Highers, is sitting another three this year, has had offers from all four universities she applied to in order to do primary teaching and has managed to achieve four awards in Pathways. The awards she has done are SQA safe road user and religious belief and values, Caritas and GCSE Polish.
Natalia also volunteers with the grey matters soup group, and is involved with St Columba’s Cathedral children’s liturgy and preparation for the sacrament.
Other award winners were Erin MacGregor, for outstanding achievement in Pathways volunteering; Ross Christie, for outstanding achievement in Pathways Scottish studies and the Scots language; Sophie Herron, for outstanding achievement in Pathways religious belief and values; Sophie Lamb, for outstanding achievement in Pathways Scottish Studies; Euan MacNeil, for outstanding achievement in Pathways safe road user; Emma Thompson, for outstanding achievement in Pathways leadership and Connor Edwards for outstanding achievement in Pathways personal development.
Two businesses were also given outstanding Pathways providers awards – Argyll Commercials, which has supported Oban High School for more than 25 years, and Dunollie House, which offers a wide range of opportunities for pupils.
The Pathways Programme offers an extended work experience opportunity while also allowing pupils to gain additional wider qualifications linked to this experience.
This work experience lasts two hours per week for between five and nine months, allowing the pupils to develop a wide range of skills while gaining a thorough insight into their chosen industry.
Pathways has been running for eight years and was one of the first significant changes introduced when Peter Bain arrived as head teacher at Oban high.
Pathways was created in conjunction with a community partnership group involving local councillors and businesses and in its first year had 30 pupils on placement with 12 providers.
Pathways has grown significantly and now has 45 providers and 80 pupils on placement.
Pathways is currently exclusively for S6 pupils but the programme will grow further next year as it opens up to S5 and S4 pupils in a targeted manner. The idea behind opening it up to S4 and S5 pupils is to ensure they have the opportunity to gain extended and valuable work experience before leaving school.
Mr Woodcock said: ‘Pathways has been very successful throughout the years which is why we continue to encourage high numbers of pupils to take it and also why we continue to dedicate time and resources to deliver it.
‘Pathways benefits a wide range of pupils with those looking to apply to university to professional and competitive degrees in law, vet medicine and teaching being able to gain insight into their fields before applying, which gives them a significant advantage over others at the application and interview stage.
‘It also allows pupils looking to go straight into the workplace the opportunity to begin building networks of contacts and attaining a reference. There have also been times where pupils have gained full-time employment from the Pathways provider they were with at school.
‘We would like to thank all the businesses and partners that have supported Oban High School with the Pathways programme over the past eight years and we would welcome any new businesses on board. If anyone would like more information please contact Aisling Clark at Oban High School on 01631 564231.’