Work Placement with Cameron Strachan Yuill

 In May 2022, DYW Borders worked in partnership with Camerons Strachan Yuill Architects (CSY), Scottish Borders Council Education Department and Inspire Learning, to offer all the local secondary schools a unique weeklong virtual work placement. This opportunity was offered to pupils from S3 to S6 who had expressed an interest in a career in Architecture or Design which resulted in   20  pupils from   6  schools successfully gaining a place.

The project brief for the week, either individually or in groups was to design their ideal classroom or social space. This brief was open and free, with no specific requirements or budget to use as a guide. The aim was to develop their classroom or social space based on their own preferences and judgements that could be justified when discussed. On the final day pupils would present their final design, using many different methods including, paper, Minecraft, Procreate (graphics editor app).
 
Each day, pupils, were offered a mentoring session by a member of staff from Camerons Strachan Yuill, these sessions consisted of the process of design and the steps taken at each stage by completing daily challenges, these were then discussed with their fellow pupils, mentors and DYW Borders.
 
To conclude the virtual work placement, each pupil/group had to give a short presentation of their classroom to an audience formed by their peers, DYW Borders, Cameron Strachan Yuill mentors and colleagues. Each design presentation was discussed individually, and pupils explained the reasons as to why they choose the layout, style, fixtures, and fittings.
 
On completion of the work placement, all the pupils were awarded an accredited SCQF Level 4 or 5 work placement unit, as well as developing some key employability skills:
 - Creativity/design
- Researching
- Planning
- Organisation
- Problem solving
- Presentation & Communication
- Team working & Collaboration