Latest news with #KenMuirAward
Daily Record
04-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Lanarkshire school pupils honoured at inaugural Ken Muir Awards
Young achievers recognised for personal development beyond academic success. Five pupils from Lanarkshire have been recognised for their exceptional personal growth, resilience and workplace readiness as recipients of the first-ever Ken Muir Award for Exceptional Achievement – an award which celebrates the skills and attributes that go beyond exam results. Jenny Renfrew, Dylan McManus, Owen Leitch, Eva McGowan and Kieran Smith, all S5 and S6 pupils from Cathkin High School, Greenfaulds High School, Lanark Grammar, St John Ogilvie High School and Strathaven Academy, were among 86 recipients from across Scotland of the inaugural Ken Muir Award. All recipients had successfully completed the Powering Futures Challenge Programme - a nationally-delivered course equivalent to a Higher, which supports senior-level pupils in becoming workplace ready. While over 1000 pupils nationally earned a formal SCQF Level-6 qualification through the process, the Lanarkshire award winners impressed their teachers with their personal development throughout the programme - with winners recognised for growing in confidence, strengthening their teamwork and communication skills, and taking meaningful steps towards their future careers. Professor Ken Muir - after whom the awards are named - has played a key role in advising the Scottish Government on the future of Scottish education. As a key contributor to the 2023 report It's Our Future - Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment, Professor Muir has called for reforms to Scotland's system of education to better prepare learners for the world of work. Professor Muir said: 'We need a culture shift in Scotland's education system. Of course, grades are important - but so is working hard, reflecting on progress, and growing as a person. These awards are symbolic of this shift. They celebrate personal development, resilience, communication, and teamwork. These are all critical attributes that help young people thrive in life and in work.' The Powering Futures Schools Programme, now in its fourth year, sees pupils tackle real-life business and industry challenges in teams, developing vital meta-skills while building links with employers. Jennifer Tempany, co-founder of Powering Futures, said: 'These awards highlight the often-overlooked achievements that sit beyond academic results, but which can inspire confidence and purpose in young people as they go into the world of work. We are proud to play our part in helping young people see their potential, and congratulate every recipient, including those from Lanarkshire, for their well-earned achievement.' *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
Glasgow Times
30-06-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow pupils recognised for achievements beyond grades
The students from across Glasgow have been honoured with the inaugural Ken Muir Award for Exceptional Achievement. This award celebrates personal growth, resilience, and workplace readiness, highlighting the value of skills that extend beyond exams. Dominic Rogers, William Brand Armstrong, Adam Marchbank, Greta Fraser, Euan Ward, Mark Vassie, Sarthak Gupta, and MacKenzie Carss were among 86 recipients across Scotland. Read more: Glasgow pupils save 12kg of food waste per day in new school pilot Professor Ken Muir with Dominic Rogers from Bishopbriggs Academy (Image: Supplied) The students are all S5 and S6 pupils from Bishopbriggs Academy, Drumchapel High School, Eastbank Academy, Hillhead High School, Jordanhill School, King's Park Secondary School, and Shawlands Academy. Eilidh Richmond, a teacher at Shawlands Academy, said: "We're incredibly proud of our pupils for receiving the Ken Muir Award. "What's been most rewarding isn't just seeing them earn a qualification, but witnessing the confidence, maturity, and resilience they've developed along the way. "They've learned to communicate more effectively, work collaboratively under pressure, and reflect meaningfully on their own growth. "These are life skills that will stay with them far beyond school and into the world of work. "This recognition is truly well deserved." Professor Ken Muir with MacKenzie Carss from Shawlands Academy (Image: Supplied) The award is named in honour of Professor Ken Muir, a key advisor to the Scottish Government on education reform and a contributor to the 2023 report It's Our Future – Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment. He has called for reforms to Scotland's education system to better prepare students for the future. Professor Muir said: "We need a culture shift in Scotland's education system. "Of course, grades are important – but so is working hard, reflecting on progress, and growing as a person. "These awards are symbolic of this shift. "They celebrate personal development, resilience, communication, and teamwork. "These are all critical attributes that help young people thrive in life and in work." Read more: MSPs pass legislation to abolish Scotland's exams body All award recipients completed the Powering Futures Challenge Programme, a nationally delivered course equivalent to a Higher qualification focused on preparing senior pupils for the workplace. More than 1000 pupils across Scotland earned an SCQF Level 6 qualification through the programme. However, the award winners stood out for their exceptional personal development, including growth in confidence, teamwork, and communication skills. Now in its fourth year, the Powering Futures Schools Programme challenges pupils to tackle real-life business and industry problems in teams, in order to develop essential meta-skills while building valuable connections with employers. Jennifer Tempany, co-founder of Powering Futures, said: "These awards highlight the often-overlooked achievements that sit beyond academic results, but which can inspire confidence and purpose in young people as they go into the world of work. "We are proud to play our part in helping young people see their potential, and congratulate every recipient, including those from Glasgow, for their well-earned achievement."
The Herald Scotland
24-06-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Ken Muir Awards recognise ‘overlooked' student achievements
Powering Futures established the Ken Muir Awards as part of the culmination of its national Schools Programme. Delivered as a SCQF Level 6 certified course, the Schools Programme tasks students with solving a real-world challenge set for them by local business leaders. More than 1,000 pupils from 86 schools in Scotland participated in the Schools Programme in 2024-2025, the fourth year of the programme. Although every participant also leaves with a qualification, a spokesperson for Powering Futures said that the new Ken Muir Award is meant to give special attention to pupils who exhibited 'less measurable, but deeply meaningful outcomes,' such as increased confidence, teamwork skills, and planning for their lives after school. An award was given to one pupil from each participating school. Recipients were nominated by their teachers in recognition of individual growth during the challenge. Many calls for reforming the Scottish education system and independent studies into qualifications, exams and the curriculum have emphasised the need to move away from traditional results-based education and instead prioritise skills and other achievements that might translate directly into the workplace. Professor Louise Hayward's 2023 Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment recommended significant changes to the exam diet and the creation of a new diploma reflecting wider student achievements. Prof Muir's 2022 report, Putting Learners at the Centre, focussed on reforms to the qualifications system as part of a broader cultural shift in education that gave less weight to high-stakes exams and more focus on student and teacher voices. Read more Prof Muir said that the new award in his name and the Powering Futures Schools Programme are both 'symbolic' of the change he wants to see in Scottish education. 'We need a culture shift in Scotland's education system. Of course, grades are important - but so is working hard, reflecting on progress, and growing as a person. 'These Awards are symbolic of this shift. They celebrate personal development, resilience, communication, and teamwork. These are all critical attributes that help young people thrive in life and in work.' He added that giving students, teachers, and employers input into the system is critical. 'Innovation in education doesn't come from the top down. It comes from those on the ground who genuinely want to see young people achieve in every sense of the word. Powering Futures is one such innovation, and it's helping us reimagine what success looks like in Scottish schools.' Professor Ken Muir presents Rubin Allen from Alva Academy with his Powering Futures Challenge SCQF Level 6 Qualification Certificate. (Image: © Stuart Nicol Photography 2025.) Over the course of the Schools Programme, students have the chance to work directly with the business leaders who set the challenges and build relationships, which Powering Futures co-founder Jennifer Tempany said provide opportunities for students when they leave school. 'The Powering Futures Schools Programme is equipping the next generation with the skills and mindset to thrive in the jobs of the future. 'These Awards highlight the often-overlooked achievements that sit beyond academic results, but which can inspire confidence and purpose in young people as they go into the world of work. 'We are proud to play our part in helping young people see their potential, and congratulate every recipient for their well-earned achievement.' The inaugural Ken Muir Awards were hosted by SSEN Transmission in Perth. Nicky Gadsden, SSEN's Early Career Attraction and Engagement Lead, said the awards 'help signal a brighter, more sustainable future powered by their vision and ambition.' 'We're thrilled to celebrate the recipients of this year's Ken Muir Award - young people whose drive and innovation are already setting them up to make waves in their future careers, wherever it takes them.'
