This year, East Park School decided to create a Raising Attainment post to enable them to focus on accreditation through SQA because they had a higher than usual number of senior phase learners (Pupils in S4-S6 as defined by the Curriculum for Excellence) this session and wanted to ensure that every young person achieved as many awards as possible.  East Park School is a grant-aided special school for children and young people from all over Scotland, who have complex additional support needs including autism.

This new approach has been a great success, and the number of SQA units passed successfully has tripled from 28 (2022-23) to 68 this school year (2023-24). Thirty four Personal Achievement Awards at level 1. This included six bronze and four silver, awarded as a result of personal achievement awards being completed from the two areas on offer: Developing Independence and Taking Part in the Community. 

Due to the positive impact of creating this new position, the school is extending it to cover the 2024-25 school year.

One young person, Thomas, 14, who is Autistic and has a learning disability, has had a particularly wonderful year, achieving 5 National 1 units in:

• Food preparation (making a healthy snack, such as homemade sausage rolls and ham baguettes)
• Life in another country: Language (Thomas loves everything connected to languages but this year the focus was on France and Spain for SQA work)
• PE: Taking part in a leisure activity (Visiting the local library – Thomas’ favourite place. Going swimming)
• Number skills: Using a calculator
• Personal development: Personal hygiene, as well as 3 Personal Achievement awards in: Level 1 Healthy eating; Level 1 Travel in the community and Level 1: Personal presentation.

Catriona Campbell – Head of Education at East Park School said “Thomas has just finished S4 and we are so proud of his hard work. These are practical, valuable achievements that will help him to lead a fulfilling, independent life beyond school. Thomas has been at East Park for four years and will be staying on for S5 next year and we hope that we will be able to present him for National 2 units next session.” 

Domanic (turning 18 in August) who is autistic, finished at East Park School in June, and has had a fantastic year.  He successfully completed his Personal Achievement Silver Award, learning about healthy eating, personal presentation, travel in the community and exploring a local area.

Domanic also achieved 5 National 1 units, 

• Personal development: Personal hygiene
• Number skills: Handling money
• Number skills: Shape
• Science in the environment: Reduce, re-use and recycle;
• Practical craft skills: Making a craftwork item.

These units included activities such as paying for items in shops, collecting and sorting items to be recycled and making decorative glass jars.

Domanic requires a lot of verbal reassurance, consistent staffing and a quiet setting. Having had a successful S6, Domanic will be continuing his studies at Glasgow Clyde College, having secured a place on their Level 2: Skills for Life course.  Catriona Campbell congratulated Domanic on his achievements saying "We are incredibly proud of Domanic and all his hard work and wish him every success in the future."