Newlands Junior College

[EduCativ]

The aim of Newlands Junior College (NJC) is to deliver an alternative form of education, aimed at young people who find that mainstream secondary school education does not best suit them but who have the potential to become successful people and good employees, thereby contributing positively to society.

We recruit around 30 pupils per year from partner secondary schools. They experience an alternative approach to their education in years S3 and S4. In addition to academic subjects, the NJC curriculum combines vocational/career training and personal development with sports, nutrition, and outdoor activities.

By including these elements, we believe that the NJC approach increases motivation, skills, and confidence in addition to providing formal qualifications at SCQF Level 4 and Level 5. At the end of S4, leavers will have the qualifications, skills, and personal qualities that will allow them to access one of the guaranteed apprenticeships or college courses the NJC can make available.

This is a unique opportunity for young people of school age to learn in an environment that models itself in the work place but, just as importantly, provides great experiences designed to develop areas of skill and expertise that will make them rounded individuals who are attractive to future employers. Newlands Junior College exists to provide opportunities for young people who have potential but are at risk of disengaging from education and failing to find a fulfilling and rewarding role in later life.

Newlands Junior College prepares young people for guaranteed apprenticeships and college places through a vocationally focused educational experience aimed at developing the students’ existing and latent potential. With positive relationships as the key to success, the experience provides a skills-based, personalized approach through which individual excellence is fostered in preparation for work.

Newlands Junior College is designed to provide a unique type of education, suited to the particular needs of young people who do not learn well in the mainstream educational system, but who have the potential to become useful contributors to society.

At NJC, all students experience a curriculum designed around three main strands:

• An academic curriculum focused on key skills.
• Vocational Education.
• Personal Development.

The emphasis on vocational education and personal development is the distinguishing feature of the NJC curriculum. It is seen as essential if our young people are to be motivated and encouraged to learn. NJC’s academic curriculum has a focus on four vital areas – English, IT, Mathematics, and Science.

These are offered as discrete subjects, although every effort is made to establish connections amongst them. All students have the opportunity to achieve National awards at levels 4, 5, or beyond depending upon individual needs and aspirations. Other curricular areas are covered mainly through planned interdisciplinary studies. There is a focus on project-based learning and extensive use of new technology. The approach is aimed at engaging the interest of students who have not experienced success and fulfillment in the mainstream.

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