The Nature and Implications of the Part-Time Employment of Secondary School Pupils

Introduction

Part of a national programme of research, as recommended in Determined to Succeed and reflecting a general interest in pupils' part-time and vocational experiences
Also interest in looking at feasibility of making closer links between pupils' part-time work and their schooling
Keen to look at how this would also fit into other developments in the curriculum such as increased flexibility; vocational preparation initiatives and enterprise in education generally
Notes will be taken
Neither school nor individual will be identified - the research team will share notes for purposes of analysis
If anything specifically sensitive (eg that would identify school) note at time and will not be used in any form in the final public report
Questions?

School's attitude to pupils working part-time

Confirm definition: Part-time employment, for the purposes of this research, is 'any paid employment including family-based work'.
What are seen as positives? Give examples
Negatives? Give examples
Any perceived impact of part-time work on enterprising attitudes and behaviours?
Any perceived impact on career intentions ('career' defined in broadest sense)
Overall intention to encourage/discourage pupils taking up part-time work
Any impact (current or planned; intentional or unintentional) on school's work experience programme

Overall school attitude to enterprise in education

To what extent is this seen as a priority in the school? (seek evidence from the school development plan, staff development priorities and in authority-level decision-making)

Documentation and provision

We will be asking about the school's provision, and wondered if the following might be available either now or to be sent on to us:

Content of enterprise in education provision, including career education
Any audit or mapping of above if not available
Development plans regarding EinE
Section of School Development plan re EinE
How are enterprising attitudes and behaviours developed in the school? At different stages?

Increased use of part-time employment experiences in Enterprise in Education

How view in principle?
How might it work in practice?
How might it link to enterprise in education (check stages S3 to S6)
Check if included career education when considering previous question - if not, check how part-time work might link with career education and guidance S3 to S6
What external links does the E in E curriculum have (particularly with employers)? Describe the school's links with employers generally.
How do parents link into E in E?
Current links with Careers Scotland - potential to use part-time-work more here?
Perceived factors likely to help or hinder making increased links between part-time employment experiences and schooling (include eg issues re staff development, employer links, staff and parent attitudes etc)

Vocational preparation and the flexible curriculum

What vocational initiatives are happening for the S3/S4 group in the school? (eg vocational pathways with SPA or VQ units etc)
Is there any way in which part-time employment might link into these?
What vocational initiatives are happening for the S5/S6 group in the school? (eg vocational pathways with SPA or VQ units etc)
Is there any way in which part-time employment might link into these?
To what extent are there special facilities for vocational experiences within the school, or capable of being linked to the school? [Some schools, especially PPP ones, are incorporating vocational facilities eg call centre, mechanic workshop, industrial kitchen into the buildings; other can and do make use of FE for this]
Some schools in the US have a model whereby older pupils (like our S6) are part-time pupils and part-time workers. Is this something that happens here? Would you encourage it?

The Scottish Government