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Hollybrook Secondary School in Glasgow sets Royal Example
- SBC Patron HRH Prince Charles Pays Tribute to Flagship Special Needs Secondary -
HRH Prince Charles meets youngsters from Hollybrooke School
HRH Prince Charles, President of Scottish Business in the Community (SBC), today (29 May 2007) paid tribute to the exem
plary work being carried out at Hollybrook Secondary School in Glasgow to enhance the educational experience of its pupils and drive employability.
His Royal Highness praised the school’s culture of learning and leadership during a tour of the Govanhill-based Special Needs school to view the new £45,000 ICT suite and resource library, funded by nine SBC member organisations* to enable the school to improve ICT and Digital resources within every curricular area.
Mary Farrell, head teacher at Hollybrook, viewed the major financial contribution as an investment in the young people at the school, making a positive difference to their life choices and opportunities and ‘ensuring they felt a parity of esteem with their mainstream peers’.
The high-achieving Special Needs Secondary School has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with SBC through its Closing the Gap initiative, which aims to improve educational achievement and develop employability skills by engaging with member organisations to deliver business-linked learning projects.
As part of the school’s careers programmes, RBS, HBOS, Greggs, The Science Centre, KPMG and Oryx Solutions are among those who have provided staff on voluntary secondments to assist pupils in interview techniques, preparation of CVs as well as extending work placement opportunities.
Sam Barber, chief executive of SBC, said: “Hollybrook is a first-class example of how businesses can work with young people to equip them with the skills they need to set out on an independent life, boosting not only their career opportunities but also their confidence to prevent them falling into the NEET category. The school has set an incredible benchmark for other educational establishments to follow and this couldn’t have happened without the support of SBC companies and staff who have committed to Closing the Gap.”
Over the past three years, the school has a 100% record of leavers going on to full-time learning or employment, despite the school catchment area including some of the most socio-economic disadvantaged areas in Scotland.
Mary Farrell said: “Our aim is to improve the educational achievements and life chances of all our pupils. By working in partnership with SBC, we are raising the ambition, confidence and self-esteem of our young people ensuring they are a part of a successful society.”
Hollybrook School has 110 pupils aged 12-18 all with additional learning support needs. It is the only school in Scotland to be on the Princes Trust Excel Programme and, in an HMIe report published in March 2007, it achieved ‘outstanding’ results in all quality indicators, scoring 5 for attainment and two 6’s for leadership and pastoral care.
* ICT Suite/Resource Library Funders: Bank of Scotland Corporate (part of HBOS plc); George Wimpey West Scotland; HSBC; Kwik Fit GB Ltd; Laing O'Rourke Scotland; Lloyds TSB Scotland; Oracle; Royal Bank of Scotland; ScottishPower
Hollybrook School Leavers Statistics
2004 – 2005 – 12 leavers
Full time college placement 66.66%
Skillseekers training 8.33 %
Get Ready for Work training 8.33 %
Full time Apprenticeship 16.66 %
2005-2006 – 18 Leavers
Full time employment 11.1%
Full time Training 38.9%
Full time college placement 50%
2006 – 2007 – 12 Leavers
Full time college placement 66.66%
Get Ready for Work training 16.66%
Split Placement
college / social work provision 8.33%
Social Work lifeskills
Support and Care package 8.33%
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