It is important for Scotland’s economic future to promote a healthy enterprising culture

Enterprise can be handicapped when there is a fear of failure

Negative national attitudes to failed entrepreneurs can reduce the entrepreneurial instinct

Societies have different collective attitudes to the independence of individuals

Education can influence the country’s climate for entrepreneurship

Traditional educational practice may tend to inhibit enterprising and risk-taking behaviour

It promotes a “Can do - Will do” philosophy

It develops self-confidence and determination

It involves making informed choices/decisions

It stimulates action -  both individual and collective

It emphasises awareness of rights and responsibilities

It involves elements from the following: Team working; Taking responsibility for learning; Decision-making; Risk taking; Innovation; Community involvement; Business involvement; Contexts related to the world of work; Career planning; Creativity; Entrepreneurship; Running a business; Cross-curricular initiatives; Use of ICT; Vocational contexts for learning across the curriculum; Experiential learning

Schools can develop three key areas:

Whilst entrepreneurship may involve individual self-interest, pupils are helped to understand mutual interest, eg in terms of job creation (NB  Daniel Goleman’s work on Emotional Intelligence and its power in the workplace - see Toolkit section on this)

EiE can be closely linked with the local business situation (where, for example, tourism might be important, or fishing, or crafts etc)

It is linked to the Sustainable Schools agenda

Although an individual’s capacity to be enterprising is to some extent related to personality, the skills and attitudes required can be taught

In a constantly changing society, pupils need to be adaptable and need to be able to respond positively to new situations

There is a need for pupils to develop skills which are transferable out of the subject-specific context and into the world of work and business - that is, “systems thinking” rather than “reductionist” education

Such skills are important in employees, as well as in employers and entrepreneurs

EiE links with the National Priorities, particularly raising achievement, promoting inclusion and developing participation in the educational process

The document Determined to Succeed made 20 recommendations for developing EiE

The Scottish Executive has adopted these recommendations, with significant implications for schools, some of which are as follows:

• Pupil entitlement to an enterprise experience in each year

• Accredited vocational education available for 14+

• Quality Indicators used in school inspections will include items relating to EiE

• School clusters will establish partnerships with local business and appropriate organisations

• Initial teacher training will cover EiE issues

• Teachers will be guaranteed access to CPD opportunities in EiE

EiE is an important aspect of developing flexibility in the curriculum

Business is seen as having a role in identifying funding and personnel to facilitate EiE

An emphasis on creative learning and teaching

Embedding entrepreneurial skills

Providing vocational enrichment relevant to subject content

Promoting experiential learning in a vocational context

Developing ICT and other skills for the future

Priority 1: Provide enterprise experiences for all pupils P1-S6 on an annual basis

Priority 2: Further develop vocational learning for pupils over 14

Priority 3: Create supportive networks for all partners: school staff, parents, carers, Local Businesses, Local Enterprise Companies

Priority 4: Further develop Continuing Professional Development opportunities for Head Teachers, Senior Management and Class Teachers in relation to Enterprise in Education programmes and activities.

Teachers must be self-motivated and adopt creative approaches to teaching and empower pupils rather than coercing them

An active, participative style of teaching is needed

Pupils should be encouraged to participate in enterprise activities

Work Experience involvement should be encouraged and facilitated

Excellence in Education through Business Links (EEBL) promotes teacher placements in business and industry

Teachers can take advantage of opportunities to become more familiar with business practices – EEBL can facilitate partnerships which allow a two-way exchange of information between schools and businesses

Teachers need awareness of the materials available for developing EiE

SMT support will be important

The 2GETHER document in the references below gives many examples of practical approaches to the implementation of EiE initiatives