Parkhill Secondary School

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About our Academy

Introduction

The Enterprise Academy is a vibrant initiative aimed at supporting young people with Additional Support Needs into positive and sustained destinations. At Parkhill Secondary School we always ensure we focus on the individual needs of every young person. The Enterprise Academy allows us to build on the interests and aspirations of our young people, helping them to develop new skills for work and future career choices.

  

In February 2023, in recognition of the drive, support and success of our Enterprise Academy, we were awarded Enterprising Schools Certification - Silver.

In addition, Parkhill Enterprise Academy was featured on the Enterprising Schools website. The feature profiles the Enterprise academy and includes details of the project, its aims and successes, the pupils and our partners. 

You can view the feature by clicking on the text or the Enterprising School Logo.

The Enterprise Academy was formally opened by Baillie Cameron in February 2017 and classes began in August 2017 with young people attending from across the city.  At present courses are focused on 3 key areas where there is evidence of employment routes for young people with Additional Support Needs.

 

Hospitality

Horticulture

Customer services and Administration

 

Several rooms were transformed as part of the development with a professional kitchen, café area, hotel bedroom and Office completed between 2016 and 2017. A new boot room was also added to the already established Horticulture area at the rear of the school. These areas allow the school to offer realistic work environments where young people can develop skills for learning, life and work.

Courses are delivered by Parkhill staff in conjunction with staff from City of Glasgow College and Glasgow Kelvin College.

 

NPA Professional Cookery Level 3

This course is aimed at students who have an interest in the hospitality interest or cooking and are working predominantly at National 3 level.

 

This course consists of the following units:

4 Mandatory units

  • Food Preparation Techniques: An Introduction
  • Cookery Processes: An Introduction
  • Food Hygiene for the Hospitality Industry
  • Hospitality: Organisation of Practical Skills

 

And one of the following 2 units:

  • Understanding Using Ingredients
  • Health and Food Technology: Food Product Development

 

“It has helped me to unlock my potential. It has helped my confidence grow. I have developed practical and organisational skills as well as working as a team.”

Dean Gordon, Parkhill Secondary School

 

Culinary Ability: Food Preparation

This course will be supported by City of Glasgow College. The principal aim of the Culinary Ability: Food Preparation Award is to provide a very practical qualification that supports the development of basic culinary skills for individuals with disabilities or those with no previous relevant training and who aspire to gain employment in a professional kitchen.

 

Receive and Store Goods in a Catering Environment

Select, Weigh, Measure and Prepare Ingredients for Future Use

Prepare Ingredients for Future Use in a Variety of Dishes

Assist with the Preparation of Dishes for Cooking and/or Finishing

Assist with the Completion and Presentation of a Variety of Dishes

Clean and Disinfect Work Areas, Tools and Equipment in a Catering Environment

Work Effectively in a Catering Environment

 

The Enterprise Academy @ Parkhill Secondary School is the first centre in Scotland to deliver this course. It offers a bridge between the training and education and the real-life working environment of a professional kitchen.

 

“It has enhanced my self-confidence and made me feel more a part of the hospitality industry. It will enhance my employability and skills.“

Dylan Saraivanov, Parkhill Secondary School

 

 Introduction to Hotel Skills

Introduction to Hotel Skills offers young people with an interest in Hospitality the opportunity to develop their understanding of this particular area of the industry. By using the innovative Bedroom, café and Office areas pupils will be introduced to 3 of the main areas of a working Hotel.

Units covered will include:

  • Accommodation Operations
  • Introduction to customer services
  • Food and Beverage Service: Table
  • Or Food and Table Service: Counter

Pupils will also be able to achieve Steps to work, Personal Development Award as well as an NPA in Enterprise and Employability

 

Horticulture

 

SVQ Level 1 Horticulture

Horticulture has been an important part of the curriculum at Parkhill Secondary School for a number of years. If you enjoy working outdoors, working with your hands, learning about how to grow plants, vegetables and fruits then this may be the course for you.

Tuesdays and Thursday

This course is aimed at young people in the senior phase who wish to gain practical skills in Horticulture and enjoy working outdoors and who have shown competence in horticulture (preferably have completed NPA in Horticulture).

This SVQ gives learners an internationally recognised qualification that guarantees they have the skills, knowledge and abilities to carry out their role successfully in horticulture.

SVQ level 1 is designed as an introduction for those seeking a career in the land based industry.

Students should show a keen interest in horticulture and working outdoors. No formal qualifications are necessary but students should be enthusiastic about working with plants and working outdoors. Students should be working at level 3 literacy and numeracy.

 

Introduction to Horticulture

Horticulture has been an important part of the curriculum at Parkhill Secondary School for a number of years. If you enjoy working outdoors, working with your hands, learning about how to grow plants, vegetables and fruits then this may be the course for you.

 

The Introduction to Horticulture course is aimed at young people working at Level 3 in numeracy and literacy who have an interest in working outdoors and with plants. The course will include visits to local gardens and horticulture centres.

 

Units covered in the course include:

  • Developing an environmental area
  • Managing an environmental area
  • Growing Plants

 

“Attending here has made me reach my full potential.“

Scott Smith, Govan High School

 

Administration/customer services

NPA Administrative Activities

This course will be delivered in partnership with Glasgow Kelvin College.

The NPA will also allow learners to have ‘hands on’ experience of key pieces of office equipment, develop communication skills with internal and external customers, and improve their skills in locating, retrieving information and developing IT skills to present information.

Units covered include:

  • Administrative Activities
  • Preparing Business Documents
  • IT solutions for administrators

 

Pupils will also be able to achieve Steps to work, Personal Development Award as well as an NPA in Enterprise and Employability

 

“I have learned new skills like touch typing and how to search for jobs. I’ve learned to type letters and how to do spreadsheets and health and safety. I would like to work in an office. “

Nicola Ferris, Cardinal Winning

 

“Margaret helped me with my computer skills. I am much more confident with the computer now. I can now do spreadsheets, word processing and make tables. “

Steven Leung, Middlefield School