The Mark Scott Leadership for Life Award
Partnered by The Outward Bound Trust
OUR SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS
Why do schools participate in the Award?
Our partner schools support participants on the Award because the outcomes of the Award directly relate to the needs of young people seeking to ready themselves for life after school, and this enhances the school's support for a positive destination for their pupils.
We work with them to target pupils most able to make use of the opportunity and together we support them through this last year of school education.
As well as the opportunity, through the Award, for the school to contribute positively to the local community, many teaching staff recognise those pupils whose performance post school may be hindered by issues with anxiety or social anxiety - who have a great deal to gain by participating.
Schools and Pupils alike also recognise how participation can affect destination from school as pupils gain understanding of themselves, confidence in themselves, explore their values and are encouraged to 'think big' in regard to their next steps - whatever they are.
The current focus on wellbeing in the student population has identified the advantages gained by participants in dealing with problems, finding strategies, developing a feeling of choice, and in resilience.
The Award, in supporting young people through their lives at this stage has also been recognised internationally for its inclusion of members of the LGBTQI community in our support for all young people in an inclusive programme.
You can use our contacts page to request a copy of our comprehensive evaluation document to see the results of participation.
Currently Participating Schools
Schools who work with us to allow us to recruit from their 6th year and to support their wellbeing - as pupils apply for the award, some schools listed have no current participants.
- Liberton Community High School
- Castlebrae Community High School
- Holy Rood High School
- Smithycroft Secondary
- Whitehill Secondary
- St Mungos Academy (Glasgow)
- Bearsden Academy
- Boclair Academy
- Douglas Academy
- Braes High School
- Falkirk High School
- St Mungos High School (Falkirk)
- Graeme High School
- Dumbarton Academy
- Our Lady and St Patrick's High School
- Vale of Leven Academy
- Gleniffer High School
- Paisley Grammar
- St Andrew's Academy (Paisley)
- Bellahouston Academy
- Govan High School
- Rosshall Academy
- St Paul's High School
- Bannerman High School
- St Andrew's Secondary School (Glasgow)
- Springburn Academy
- St Rochs Secondary
- Clydebank High School
- Drumchapel High School
- St Peter The Apostle High School
- Hyndland Secondary School
- St Thomas Aquinas Secondary
- Knightswood High School
- Cleveden High School
- Glasgow Gaelic School
- Hillhead High School
- Notre Dame High School
- John Paul Academy
- Bellshill Academy
- Cardinal Newman High School
- Clyde Valley High School
- Coltness High School
- St Aidan's High School
- All Saints Secondary
- Bishopbriggs High School
Our School 'Champions'
Teachers (often SMT members, but not exclusively) who are our contact to the school in order to recruit and support participants. Any school wishing to take part will need to identify a 'Champion' as part of signing up to the partnership.
If you are a teacher in one of the currently participating schools (or one situated nearby with a similar catchment area) and are interested in supporting the Award - please get in touch!
We're always looking for more teachers to support pupils in their schools, and this is a great way for NQT's to expand their portfolio as well as get more involved with the senior school, even if there is an existing Champion.
Unfortunately due to funding constraints we are presently unable to expand the Award into new areas of the Central Belt (we have operated in East and West Lothian, and East Renfrewshire in the past), but with the right funding assistance would definitely be keen to talk about taking on new schools - we truly believe in the Award's ability to change lives and would love to extend this opportunity to all 6th year pupils.
Please get in touch now with the Award Team if you'd like to find out more:
markscottaward@outwardbound.org.uk
Or scroll down for the FAQ's
Questions about the Award - information for Teachers
The Mark Scott Leadership for Life Award is a personal development programme for young people in the 6th year in the Central Belt of Scotland.
It was set up following the tragic sectarian murder of Mark Scott, a Glasgow teenager, and has been running for 25 years. In that time over 3500 young people from more than 70 schools have taken part.
The Award aims to increase community cohesion. The Award also aims for participants to:
- Become more confident individuals, and develop the skills for independent learning
- Develop teamwork and project management skills and an awareness of how to lead others
- Develop awareness of, and show greater respect for others from different backgrounds
- Develop a sense of social responsibility by delivering projects that benefit their local community and have a positive impact on their community
The programme begins with a 5-day training course at one of The Outward Bound Trust’s residential centres.
Working with others from nearby schools, participants undertake a series of adventurous challenges including an overnight expedition, and receive coaching in confidence building and support, conflict management and psychology, and training in team-working and leadership, project management, and presentation skills.
Once back home, participants have weekly meetings in their groups to generate and implement a 3-day community project of their design.
This community project will be entirely run by the participants in their groups overseen and supported by their dedicated Mark Scott Award Project Co-ordinator. They have the freedom to choose any project suitable in their community.
Around six weeks after the residential course, participants attend an evening Project Forum where they present their progress to date and plans for the delivery of their project
Commonly Midway through the programme, participants attend a Refresh Day, which involves a half-day of adventurous activity and a half-day of targeted work supporting the team’s project management and personal development needs.
The programme is fully funded by sources including the Scottish Government and so there are no course fees to pay, and there is no cost to participating schools.
The only costs to participants are a £30 administration fee and local travel costs associated with attending community project meetings, and getting to the pickup point for the bus to the residential course. Schools occasionally choose to support some pupils with these additional costs.
Participants are supported by a Project Coordinator, who delivers the residential course, attends project group meetings and other events, and supervises the delivery of the community project.
Participants will need time out of school for:
- The Residential course (5 days)
- Meetings with project agencies during office hours
- The Refresh Day (1 day unless this is at a weekend)
- Community project delivery days – only if necessary/permitted (up to 3 days equivalent, may also be done at weekends when suitable)
Beyond attendance on the residential course, pupils must ask for permission to have time from school and cannot assume it exists.
See the above notes for champions.
Participants and their parents contract directly with The Outward Bound Trust. We ask our supporting schools to designate a School Champion – a member of staff who the Project Coordinator can liaise with over promoting the Award to potential applicants, and who can act as a point of contact within the school for participants in cases of welfare concerns.
Recruitment onto the Award is done by application, usually following a presentation to S5 students from the Project Coordinator.
The main phase of recruitment is done between March and April with limited additional recruitment happening at the beginning of June and over the summer, before the programme begins in the autumn.
We appreciate that March/April recruitment is difficult for schools and pupils alike but we don't have the capacity to visit all schools in June.
Processing of applications is best done before the end of the summer term as it allows support for applications while still in school.
We evaluate the programme annually to make sure that the outcomes we want to see are indeed achieved, and to keep it relevant to what is important to young people and their communities today.
