Social Enterprise makes Curriculum
Social Enterprise is to be included as a core part of standard grade and higher business studies, after a dramatic rise in social enterprise activity has sparked an evolution in enterprise education.
Teachers in Scottish schools have switched onto social enterprise as a way of developing entrepreneurial skills with an awareness of social responsibility.
The Scottish Qualifications Authority has confirmed that from 2014 the new Level 4 and 5 qualifications in Business Studies (currently Standard Grade and Higher) will include Social Enterprise as model of doing business and give pupils opportunities to set up and research a social enterprise.
Over 200 schools run pupil-led social enterprises with hundreds of pupils from age 3 up to 16 involved in businesses including market gardens and food production, book and music shops, nail bars, uniform and other forms of recycling, community cafes and bike recycling.
The Scottish Social Enterprise Academy (SEA), with funding from the Scottish Government, has worked at the forefront of the movement since 2008 inspiring teachers about social enterprise and celebrating the achievements of young people with their annual Social Enterprise in Schools awards.
SEA delivers CPD courses for teachers and plans to launch new teacher guidance on social enterprise in 2012 to allow time for planning the new curriculum.
As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week pupils from award winning enterprises at Paisley Grammar and St Nicholas Primary in West Lothian celebrated World Social Enterprise day on Tuesday 15 November with Finance Secretary at a parliamentary reception sponsored by SEA.
Finance Secretary John Swinney said:
The third sector makes a valuable contribution to supporting growth in Scotland’s economy – and we are working hard to help the sector to develop and deliver its full potential.
Enterprising ideas are key to the third sector's development - and these talented young entrepreneurs are demonstrating exactly how innovative ideas can be transformed into successful and sustainable social enterprises for the benefit of local communities. I am delighted too that more young people will now be given this opportunity through the new curriculum”.
Sandra Ewen, the Social Enterprise Academy schools manager said:
Scottish Education is currently undergoing its biggest change for a century. The Social Enterprise in Schools programme encourages young people to discover and develop their entrepreneurial skills and introduces them to social enterprise as a way of doing better business.”
Fiona Downey, Enterprise Development Officer at South Lanarkshire Council said, “Social Enterprise puts entrepreneurial learning into a moral context and at the same time promotes the skills of entrepreneurship which are great fun, dynamic and high impact.
“Working with the Social Enterprise Academy young people will meet real social entrepreneurs whose key motivation for making a profit is a social one. The Academy offers support for developing and sustaining a small business and the opportunity to have success recognised by winning a prestigious award. Social Enterprise makes a real and lasting difference to schools.”
Notes to Editors
- Since 2005 Determined to Succeed, the Enterprise in Education Strategy, has been helping to develop the enterprise, entrepreneurial and employability skills of our young people and Social Enterprise Academy is a key partner in the strategy providing support through it’s Schools Programme.
- The SEA Understanding Social Enterprise CPD course for teachers is based in real social enterprises and provides support in the classroom for teachers and pupils in developing their ideas, business plan and setting up and running their social enterprise.
- Understanding Social Enterprise Courses are being run for teachers, support workers and students in Initial Teacher Education.
- A Celebration of Social Enterprise in Scotland Annual Parliamentary Reception took place on 15 November with the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition, sponsored by the Social Enterprise Academy.
- New case studies and photos are available.
Media contact
For more information, quotes, case studies and photos please contact Danny Scott, Information Officer at the Social Enterprise Academy:
- 0131 243 2674
Open Programmes
- Prove, Improve, Account23 and 24 May 2012Learn how to measure and report your triple bottom line - people, planet, and profit - on this accessible introduction to social accounting.more information
- SFBA Cross-sector CollaborationBegins 25 and 26 May 2012A new enterprise and leadership programme with the Scottish Family Business Association for family business leaders and social entrepreneurs.more information
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