An opportunity for your school and your pupils

YMCA Training collaborates with schools in a range of different ways, depending on the needs of the school and the pupils. Types of programmes include those focused on vocationally based learning, developing Key Skills or improving skills needed for employment.

Programmes cater for those pupils that thrive on practical learning and experience. These pupils benefit from vocational training which also results in a range of appropriate qualifications. We also work with disengaged pupils who may not have achieved their full potential through mainstream education and respond well to an alternative curriculum and approach that we can offer. 

Our programmes address Key Stage 4 pupils and we are also expanding to work with other age ranges. Delivery of the programmes depends on the way in which schools select to work with us and on the needs of the cohort. Training can be delivered in the school classroom, or pupils can receive training in our centres. 

Although training varies depending on specific needs, a common theme across all courses is that they are rooted in varied and practical activities which are relevant to the young people's lives. We rely on treating all pupils as adults, and where pupils attend our centres, they also benefit from the adult environment of the post-16 learners.

Our programmes for schools

Examples of programmes that we run include:

• Vocational courses leading to qualifications in Care, Business Administration, Retail, Childcare and other areas
• Young Apprenticeships for Key Stage 4 pupils
• IT courses leading to a CLAIT qualification
• An alternative curriculum which may assist with literacy and numeracy skills, provide work placements and outdoor activities and activities that work towards the Youth Achievement Award
• Work-related programmes which develop the skills required for employment and may include work placements to give insight into the world of work and work ethics
• Courses focusing on the development of personal and social skills
• Programmes providing individualised learning plans for pupils

What next?

If you work for a school or a Local Authority and would like to find out more about how you could work in partnership with YMCA Training to support the development of pupils, please contact your local centre. They will be more than happy to discuss anything you have in mind already, and how we could work together to equip your pupils for success.