Meeting individual learning needs

Examples of good practice from Kersland, St. Andrew's, Isobel Mair, and Balwearie High Schools.

Kersland School in Renfrewshire offers a curriculum for pupils in the age range 14 –18 years based on National Qualifications (NQs) and Awards Scheme Development and Accreditation Network (ASDAN). Kersland's curriculum provides challenging activities for pupils. The choice available within National Qualifications takes account of practical life skills important for young adults, whilst the modules available through the ASDAN scheme extend opportunities for pupils' subject choice and exploration of leisure pursuits. These modules also support the core skills addressed by National Qualifications.

St. Andrew's School in Inverurie uses drama as a tool for discussing everyday problems as well as being a meaningful and enjoyable curricular area in its own right. There is no specialist teacher involved. The classroom teacher conducts the lessons as part of the school day, and occasionally the class will put together a ‘production’ which can be shared and enjoyed with the rest of the school.

Collusion Theatre has worked with a number of schools. The drama provision offered, with its focus on communication and imagination, has significant potential benefits for pupils. In one special school, the headteacher’s initial aims for the activity were to develop confidence and social skills in an enjoyable participative activity. She recognised that developing these skills, important in school and for life outside school, would help meet pupils' learning needs in an enjoyable way which could lead to a real sense of achievement.

The department of Special Education at Balwearie High School in Fife offers the benefits of enterprise in education within an inclusive setting. Pupils are challenged in a number of ways and as a result they are addressing a range of curricular areas while developing as independent, confident young adults. Pupils have an opportunity to experience and develop an understanding of the world of work through the Awareness of Work and Related Experiences (AWARE) programme.