‘If my school didn’t pay for taxis, I would have to give up dream job’

0 Caitlyn Slevin travels to get ahead on qualifications for her dream job Caitlyn Slevin, 16, a fifthyear pupil at Our Lady’s High School in Cumbernauld, travels three times a week to St Maurice’s High School, two miles away across the town, to study for a National 5 qualification in make-up artistry.

She also attends a class in beauty at Cumbernauld College, and drama at nearby Greenfaulds High School. She is also studying for National 5 qualifications in English, maths, and travel and tourism studies at her own school.

She said: “It really benefits me to be able to do this as my school doesn’t offer all of the courses I want to do. I like going to other schools. I know a lot of people in my classes there. It’s really easy, I just go in and study and get it done.

“If my school didn’t pay for me to get taxis to the other schools, I wouldn’t be able to do it. My dad doesn’t drive and if I had to go on public transport, it would take me too long and I would miss things.

“I have wanted to be a make- up artist since I was in second year. I’m leaving school in the summer and going to college, but the fact I have already taken a qualification in makeup artistry means I can go straight into stage two and then get a job more quickly. I’d like to work as a make-up artist on a cruise [ship] or in a department store.”

Our Lady’s High School headteacher Danny Mcnulty said about 100 pupils at the school travelled to other educational establishments to take both vocational and academic courses.