Wider Achievement refers to activities and interests (out with formal qualifications) that your child might take part in e.g. youth work, part time jobs, hobbies, interests, volunteering, or helping to care for a relative. 

Why is Wider Achievement important?

Curriculum for Excellence recognises how valuable achievements are and how important it is for young people to have the opportunity to take part in activities.  These types of activities help to develop important skills for learning, life and work and are valuable when applying for training, college, university or employment.  Such skills might include, for example, being responsible, being creative, time keeping, problem solving, planning, negotiating, a wide and diverse range of organisational skills and social and interpersonal skills – all of which are valuable in educational and work-related contexts.

Including information about personal achievements (e.g. activities your child is involved in and what they have learned from them) will help to strengthen the personal/supporting statements that your child writes when they come to apply for training, college, university or jobs.

How should it be recognised?

It is important that the activities that your child is involved in are of value to them and their potential places of future study (college or university) or employment.  What really matters is that your child is able to see what they have learned, describe it to others and explain how they can use these skills and build on them further.  The key thing, therefore, is that your child can reflect on what they have learned, rather than just describing the activity.

How can I support it?

You can support your child by encouraging them to take part in activities that they enjoy.  You can also talk to them about what they are involved in, what they enjoy about it and what they think they have learned from it.  This will help your child to understand what they have achieved from the activity, which will be helpful when they come to fill out applications.

You might also want to discuss your child’s achievements at parents evening or encourage your child to tell teachers about their achievements and activities.  Alva Academy recognises pupils’ achievements with, for example, certificates, notice board and awards – Curriculum for Excellence aims to build on this.

How do we recognise achievement?

 Colours

Colours are awarded for consistent or continued participation and achievement within a group activity or individually.  This could be within school as part of any sport, music, Art or academic activity which occurs outside of the classroom.

  • Half colours will be awarded S3-S6
  • Full colours will be awarded S5-S6
  • National colours will be awarded for participation and / or outstanding success at National level. e representation for country.  Awarded S1-S6
  • Rectors Prizes will be awarded S1-S3

We also recognise achievement through the following:

  • Website
  • Weekly Achievement Sheets
  • Accreditation
  • Display Boards
  • Social Media
  • Local Papers
  • Award Assemblies
  • Colours
  • Trophies
  • Awards Ceremonies
  • Prizegiving
  • Headteacher weekly blog

Wider achievement ambassadors:

  • Iona Cashmore
  • Leah Brown