Primary school pupils take a step towards vocational careers at Inverness College UHI

Pupils from Merkinch Primary School in Inverness slipped on their overalls, hard hats and aprons at Inverness College UHI as part of a new programme offering school pupils the opportunity to experience college life. The initiative offered pupils from P4 to P7 the chance to sample some of the vocational courses on offer at the Midmills campus. 

The programme, which lasted four weeks, saw College staff collaborate with secondary school Vocational Pathway students to demonstrate and help deliver hands-on practical workshops to the enthusiastic groups of Merkinch pupils visiting the College.

Gaining experience in a variety of different vocations, the children took on challenges as hairdressers, mechanics, chefs, builders and bricklayers and got into character wearing full uniform, including chef’s hats, hard hats and high-visibility vests. The initiative was designed to raise awareness of vocational opportunities for pupils who might not succeed on the academic route. Instead, demonstrating how young people can develop with more integrated learning.

Christopher Tomlinson, a P6 pupil at Merkinch, took on a tyre challenge as part of his College experience. He said: “I learned how to put a jack stand under the car and I enjoyed working with the older students also I liked calling the tutor by their first name.”

Malcolm MacLennan, a VPP student from Dingwall Academy taught pupils how to take a wheel off the car, release air and balance a wheel during one of the practical workshops. He said: “Not only was it an educational experience for the children, but it also helped develop my confidence and forced me to think about how to explain it in a way that they would understand.”

Although the four-week collaboration is finished, the children at Merkinch Primary are continuing to develop their new-found skills with more help from staff at Inverness College UHI.

Angela Morris, Schools Liaison Development Manager, hailed the programme a huge success. Angela said: “Our weekly programme for school pupils each Friday has been given an exciting dimension this summer, with children from Merkinch Primary School, working alongside the Vocational Pathways pupils from Highland secondary schools.

“We hope the practical hands-on experience in the workshops has shown the children what can be achieved through hard work, raising their aspirations to learn new skills.”

This positive response to the project has meant plans are already been drawn up to develop the programme further into other schools.

Tracy Sinclair, Head Teacher, Merkinch Primary School said: “The patience and understanding shown to our pupils from both staff and students at the college has been outstanding. Our children thoroughly enjoyed this scheme and we hope to further develop the links made in the future. As a school we are keen to show our children a future where they have a place. Vocational opportunities like this give them this focus.”

For further information on all courses available at Inverness College UHI please call 01463 273000 or visit www.inverness.uhi.ac.uk.