At secondary school, young people are faced with subject choices and course options, and begin to make decisions which impact on their future pathways. There are a range of organisations which provide guidance as young people and their families navigate these decisions.
Help and advice for your young person's next steps in secondary school
- Contact your young person's guidance or pastoral support teacher at school.
- Contact your high school's Skills Development Scotland Career Advisor - if you don't have their contact details, check the school website or contact the school.
- Visit the Skills Development Scotland websites: My World of Work; Apprenticeships Scotland.
- Information for parents and carers is available here.
- Phone Skills Development Scotland's helpline Monday-Friday 9am-5pm 0800 917 8000.
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For those learners with disabilities or learning difficulties who face change: Talking about Tomorrow; the helpline is 0808 808 3555.
Reassuring your young person
The skills and attributes that young people gain during their course work and also at home or in the community will help them throughout their lives. Interests, hobbies and passions can all help personal development and lead to work, college, university or apprenticeships. These skills and attributes include
- specialist skills for a particular job/career
- communication skills (speaking, listening, presenting, discussing)
- creative thinking skills (problem-solving, having ideas/suggestions etc)
- IT skills
- personal skills (patience, kindness, team-working, leadership, creative thinking, resilience, focus)
- organisational skills (time-keeping, managing a diary/deadlines, day to day tasks/responsibilities etc).