Working families urged to sign up for Tax-Free Childcare on Playday to help pay for holiday clubs, after-school clubs, nurseries and childminders
Latest statistics show families save almost £100 a month with Tax-Free Childcare
Number of families using Tax-Free Childcare for children aged 8 and above increased by 20%
Working families are being encouraged to check if they could cut the cost of childcare this Playday (5 August), as HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) latest statistics show families using Tax-Free Childcare saved an average of almost £100 a month.
Playday, the national day for play, is a reminder for eligible parents to see if they could benefit from the scheme. Tax-Free Childcare can provide up to £2,000 per year per child (or £4,000 for a disabled child) helping manage childcare costs while balancing work and family life.
People can visit GOV.UK to check eligibility and sign-up for Tax-Free Childcare.
Once families have signed up, they can receive a £2 government top-up for every £8 they deposit into their account. Families can open an account for each of their children aged up to 11 and, if they have a disabled child, aged up to 16.
It can be used to pay for any approved childcare including nurseries, childminders, holiday clubs, breakfast clubs and after-school clubs. Almost 75,000 providers are now signed up to receive Tax-Free Childcare payments.
While the majority of families who use the scheme have younger children, recent statistics show the number of families using it to pay for childcare for children aged 8 and above increased by more than 20% compared to the previous year.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “Tax-Free Childcare can help with your summer childcare plans and, looking to the term ahead, with whatever type of care you require for your child.
“If you haven’t signed up already, do it today so you don’t miss out. Go to GOV.UK and search ‘Tax-Free Childcare’.”
Families can receive up to £500 worth of top-up money, or £1,000 for a disabled child, every 3 months.
Once families have opened a Tax-Free Childcare account, they can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in their account to use it whenever it’s needed. Unused money can be withdrawn at any time.
Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they:
have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they can receive up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16th birthday
the parent and their partner (if they have one) earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average
each earn no more than £100,000 per annum
do not receive Universal Credit or childcare vouchers
Tax-Free Childcare can be used alongside the government funded childcare hours, subject to eligibility.
Results Day is a major milestone for learners across Scotland, with thousands opening envelopes to find out what they have been awarded in their National Qualifications and Awards.
But on the day itself, and throughout the year, there are other achievements being celebrated too. Apprenticeships, vocational qualifications, college pathways and social enterprises are opening doors to rewarding careers and opportunities, offering routes that stand alongside and sometimes go far beyond a traditional academic path.
Take Ellie Sandison’s path in Shetland. After leaving university when full-time study alongside work didn’t suit her, Ellie found her direction through a front-desk role at Shetland Museum and Archives.
Ellie (PICTURED, top) went on to complete the Museum Galleries Technician Modern Apprenticeship, earning a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in Museum and Galleries Practice while working full time, and now works as a Learning & Engagement Assistant at the museum, delivering sessions on Shetland’s heritage to schools and community groups.
“My career path was not exactly straightforward,” she says, “but all the skills I learned along the way brought me to where I am today, and I absolutely love what I do.”
“The pathway through apprenticeships is a brilliant route,” Kai says. “Not only have I been able to gain qualifications, knowledge and skills, but I was able to get real and meaningful experience from joining a team in a working environment.”
For Jacob, the difference was clear from the start: “Scran offered me a place where I didn’t just feel like a number,” he says. “All the cooking qualifications helped me to get my job in a kitchen and are the reason I have the job in the first place.”
Former pupil Elodie, now studying Computing Science at the University of Glasgow, says the course “got me more interested in the sector,” and has shaped her ambition to work in data privacy and human rights.
One of the winning team, Jovita, says the course “gave me huge confidence” as she prepares to begin studying English and Film at Edinburgh Napier University, with ambitions to become a producer.
Not every pathway runs smoothly, but that’s part of the journey too. In Glasgow, Demi Crawford is completing a Painting and Decorating apprenticeship through City Building Training College, having overcome a serious knee injury that required surgery and led to a lot of absence.
With a tailored timetable to help her catch up, she’s now heading into her fourth and final year, preparing to sit the skills test that will qualify her as a tradesperson. “No two days are the same,” she says, “which makes work more enjoyable.”
“These challenges were difficult,” he says, “but they also helped me grow stronger and more determined.” He now plans to continue supporting elderly service users.
Nick Page, Chief Executive Officer at Qualifications Scotland said: “Results Day is about celebrating every learner’s achievement, whatever path they’ve taken.
“These stories show the incredible range of routes available, from foundation apprenticeships and work-based learning to vocational qualifications delivered in schools, colleges and community initiatives.
“I’ve seen it first-hand myself when visiting centres across the country, and I’m continually impressed with the hard work of learners everywhere.
“Whether it’s a young person discovering a passion for cyber security, building a new career in social care later in life, or an apprentice overcoming setbacks to qualify, each of these journeys proves that success looks different for everyone.
“I want to congratulate every person who has worked incredibly hard to get to where they are, and for every learner in Scotland to know there is a path that’s right for them.”
Hundreds of young carers from across Scotland will come together this week for the annual Scottish Young Carers Festival, a unique event providing young people with caring responsibilities the opportunity to take a break, connect with others and enjoy new experiences.
Young carers are children and young people who help care for a family member, friend or loved one who has an illness, disability, mental health condition, addiction or additional support needs.
Organised by Carers Trust Scotland and receives funding by the Scottish Government, the three-day festival brings together young carers from across the country for a programme of activities, entertainment and opportunities to spend time with others who understand the realities of being a young carer.
The festival offers young carers a chance to step away from their day-to-day caring responsibilities and focus on friendship, fun and wellbeing. It also provides an opportunity for young people to share their experiences and ensure their voices are heard on issues that affect their lives.
The event will also welcome a number of decision-makers and stakeholders, giving young carers the opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives directly with people involved in shaping policy and support services across Scotland.
Through activities, discussions and informal conversations, young carers will have the chance to highlight the issues that matter most to them, including breaks from caring, education, wellbeing and recognition.
Why a Break Matters
There are at least 30,000 young carers under the age of 18 in Scotland, many of whom provide vital unpaid care for family members. Carers Trust Scotland’s work highlights that time away from caring duties is not just a treat – it’s essential for young carers’ wellbeing, development and happiness.
Becky Duff, Director of Carers Trust Scotland, said:“The Scottish Young Carers Festival gives young carers the chance to take a break from their caring responsibilities, spend time with friends and enjoy opportunities that they might not otherwise have access to.
“We know from listening to young carers how important breaks, friendships and support are to their wellbeing. The festival brings young carers together from across Scotland, creating a space where they can connect with others who understand their experiences and simply enjoy being young people.
“It is also an opportunity to highlight the important contribution young carers make every day and ensure their voices continue to be heard by decision makers.”
Alison Thewliss MSP, Minister for Community Care, said: “Young carers make an invaluable contribution to their families, communities and to society as a whole The care and support they provide every day is remarkable, but I also recognise that caring responsibilities can bring challenges and make it harder to access the same opportunities as their peers.
“We remain committed to supporting young carers through initiatives such as the Young Carer Grant, the Young Scot Young Carer Package and our work to deliver a Right to Breaks for carers.
“I am delighted to attend this year’s Scottish Young Carers Festival and hear directly from young carers about the issues that matter most to them. I hope everyone attending the festival has a fantastic time and creates memories and friendships that will last long after the event has ended.”
The festival is supported by local carer organisations from across Scotland, who work throughout the year to provide advice, information and opportunities for young carers in their communities.
Throughout the event, young people will take part in a wide range of activities while building confidence, making new friends and creating lasting memories.
Levels of attainment for learners across the city have improved from last year across almost all key measures
There has been a significant improvement in the number of young people in S5 achieving three or more Higher qualifications at grade C or above and the proportion of S5 students achieving both three or more and five or more awards at SCQF Level 6 across Edinburgh.
The results also demonstrate improvement in almost all S4, S5 and S6 measures compared to 2019 (pre pandemic) and 2024 and 2025.
Over 11,226 candidates in Edinburgh received their results from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) today (Tuesday 4 August) across 164 subjects.
A total of 59,459 awards were handed out for subjects including web design, carpentry, accounting, sport science and beauty.
National 5s saw passes (A-C grades) of 80.9%, a 0.9% increase on 2025 figures, and Highers saw passes of 78.5%, an increase of 1.9% on last year.
Education, Children and Families Convener, Councillor James Dalgleish said: It has been amazing to see attainment increase in almost all key measures for Edinburgh students.
“There is a huge range of qualifications and awards achieved by our learners in 165 subjects, representing the hard work, effort and commitment of learners, teachers and school staff. Each and every one of our young people’s journeys and achievements are unique to them and today’s results mark the next step in their journey, whether that’s to college, university, an apprenticeship or into the world of work.
“We want to provide inclusive and relevant curriculum pathways into further or higher education and to the workplace for every single learner in all of our schools. There is much to celebrate and be proud of in this year’s set of results and my thanks go to all those who have supported our learners to this point including school staff, parents and carers.”
Moustafa Watti (17), a former pupil at Broughton High School achieved three As in Advanced Highers in maths, biology and chemistry today. He is going to study medicine at the University of St Andrews next month.
He said: “I signed up for the results to be sent by text and knew they would be sent from 8am. I received my text results at 8.06am – that felt like a long six minutes!
“I was delighted to get three As, I didn’t think I would even get one A so I was shocked. I only needed two Bs to get into university so I am over the moon with my results and my parents are delighted.”
Bibi Coane (15) is going into S5 at Broughton High School. She got six Nat 5s at A and one Higher A in music today. She is part of the City of Edinburgh Music School, based at Broughton, allowing musically talented pupils to do their music exams early.
Bibi said: “I am really happy with my results, I expected As but there is always a little doubt.
“Next year I am doing Advanced Higher Music a year early as I am part of the music school, as well as four Highers. The music school is amazing, I get one on one lessons and it’s allowed my cello and piano to come on really quickly. I might study music at university, but I also love history and might study that.”
Lennon Watts (16) and Dan McCandless (16) are going into S5 at Broughton High School and are part of the Scottish FA Performance School based at the school. Lennon achieved six Nat 5s at A and B level and is going on to play full time with Celtic under 19s squad. He will come to school one day a week to study two Highers.
Lennon said: “I am really happy with my results, we do one less Nat 5 because we do seven periods of football a week. Next year will be tough to manage the football and my Highers but I want to get them so I can keep my options open. I plan to do another two Highers in S6, again coming in one day a week.
Dan got six Nat 5s at A and is going to play with Hearts under 17 squad next year while also doing school full time.
Dan said: I am happy with my results and I am going to do four Highers next year. It is difficult to juggle school and football, I’ll be at school every day then go straight to training and be there until about 8pm but I want to get my Highers so I have something if football doesn’t work out.
“The football school at Broughton has been great, it’s a lot of extra training, and they are flexible when you have games or extra training with your team.”
SIGHTHILL CAMPUS: THURSDAY 6th AUGUST 10am – 1.30pm
Edinburgh College is hosting an Exam Results Day Drop In event this Thursday (6th August) at its Sighthill Campus. The event will give prospective students the chance to speak to lecturers about their applications and course options ahead of the 2026/27 academic year.
From 10am until 1:30pm, the College’s knowledgeable staff will be on hand to discuss potential options following the release of exam results, allowing students to secure places on courses for the upcoming session. Those students who have changed their mind about their original course choice, or are yet to submit an application for college but would like to study this year, are also encouraged to come along.
The Student Services team will also be available to provide advice on funding as well as the access to learning support available at Edinburgh College.
The College offers a wide variety of courses covering a range of subject areas within the Creative Industries, Construction and Engineering, Health, Wellbeing and Social Sciences, as well as Tourism, Hospitality and Business.
Courses are delivered in a variety of study modes too, including full-time and part-time options, offering flexibility for students.
If you’re unable to make the event but would still like to discuss your options, the College will have a dedicated clearing phoneline open from the 4th of August until the 14th, from 9am to 4pm, which can be reached on 0131 297 8300.
The full cast and creative team of the new production of David Harrower’s adaptation of Muriel Spark’s classic novel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie have been announced
The production is directed by Vicky Featherstone and features Gayle Rankin as Jean Brodie and is set to tour Scotland in 2026
The full cast is Maureen Beattie, Liberty Black, Dyfan Dwyfor, Brian Ferguson, Sophie Fortune, Tallulah Grieve, Shreya Khaund Marshall and Bobby Rainsbury.
The show will open at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh on Friday 9 October 2026, before touring to the Glasgow, Aberdeen and Pitlochry
Gayle Rankin, photographed by Rankin, takes on the iconic role of Miss Jean Brodie
A National Theatre of Scotland Production
Presented in partnership with The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and in association with Pitlochry Festival Theatre
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
A new stage adaptation by David Harrower
Based on the novel by Muriel Spark
Directed by Vicky Featherstone
Full cast: Maureen Beattie as Miss MacKay, Liberty Black as Mary Macgregor, Dyfan Dwyfor as Teddy Lloyd, Brian Ferguson as Gordon Lowther, Sophie Fortune as Joyce Emily, Tallulah Greive as Monica Douglas, Shreya Khaund Marshall as Jenny Gray, Bobby Rainsbury as Sandy Stranger and Gayle Rankin as Jean Brodie.
Stuart Burt CDG CSA – Casting Director; Robyn Ferguson – Casting for National Theatre of Scotland; Chloe Lamford – Set Designer; Lizzie Powell – Lighting Designer; Lewis den Hertog – Video Designer; Charlotte McLean – Movement Director; featuring music by Anna Meredith; Pippa Murphy – Sound Designer and Music Composer; Anna Orton – Costume Designer; Sally Reid – Associate Director.
Touring Scotland from 02 October to 07 November 2026.
Previews and opening at The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh before touring to The Citizens Theatre, Glasgow; His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen and Pitlochry Festival Theatre.
Opening performance at The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh on 9 October 2026
National Theatre of Scotland, in partnership with The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and in association with Pitlochry Festival Theatre, is bringing one of Scotland’s most iconic and enduring Scottish literary characters to the stage, in a brand-new production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.
This production will mark 60 years since the premiere of the original stage version.
Adapted for the stage by acclaimed Scottish playwright David Harrower from Muriel Spark’s much-loved novel, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is directed by Vicky Featherstone andfeatures Gayle Rankin making her National Theatre of Scotland debut as the charismatic Jean Brodie. Making up the Brodie set are Liberty Black as Mary Macgregor, Sophie Fortune as Joyce Emily, Tallulah Greive as Monica Douglas, Shreya Khaund Marshall as Jenny Gray, and Bobby Rainsbury as Sandy Stranger. They are joined by Maureen Beattie as Miss Mackay, Brian Ferguson as Gordon Lowther and Dyfan Dwyfor as Teddy Lloyd.
‘Give me a girl at an impressionable age, and she is mine for life.’
At the Marcia Blaine School for Girls, junior-school teacher Miss Jean Brodie is, famously, in her prime.
Each year, Brodie selects her ‘set’. The crème de la crème of girls whom she will shape through art and politics, stories of sexual liberation and titillating glimpses of the women they could become. In return, she demands utter loyalty from them all.
Witty, seductive and swirling in contradictions, Brodie’s mythical ability to invent her own truths and manipulate her girls ultimately leads her to risk everything.
This adaptation by David Harrower is a new version commissioned by National Theatre of Scotland, developed and updated from the original play which was presented at the Donmar Warehouse, London in 2018.
This visceral production takes a head-on look at the enduring moral fascination with such a beguiling and dangerous character.
MEET THE BRODIE SET
Gayle Rankin is Miss Jean Brodie. Gayle Rankin is a Tony Award-nominated Scottish performer well known for her role as Sheila the She-Wolf in the hit Netflix series GLOW and as the mysterious Alys Rivers in HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon. Gayle recently finished a run on Broadway as Sally Bowles opposite Eddie Redmayne in the award-winning production of Cabaret (Tony nominated).
Other TV credits include The Listeners (BBC) and Perry Mason (HBO). Film includes Alex Garland’s Men, Amazon’s Blow the Man Down, Bad Things and The Greatest Showman, as well as the upcoming film Incomer, which will close the 2026 Edinburgh International Film Festival. New York theatre credits include Sam Gold’s Hamlet and Phyllida Lloyd’s The Taming of the Shrew.
Maureen Beattie is Miss MacKay, the headmistress of the Marcia Blaine School for Girls. Maureen Beattie previously worked with National Theatre of Scotland in Yer Granny, 27, The Enquirer and Inteference. Other stage credits include extensive Shakespeare productions, including many at the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre of GB, and is appearing as Lear in King Lear at Pitlochry Festival Theatre this summer. Other stage credits include Escape Alone, Death of a Salesman (The Royal Exchange, Manchester), The Scent of Roses, The Cherry Orchard (Royal Lyceum Theatre), Yerma (Young Vic/Park Avenue Armory), Noises Off (Old Vic), Daisy Pulls It Off, My Fair Lady and The Ferryman on the West End. Television credits include Outlander (Starz), Fear (Prime Video) and Playing Nice (ITV). Her film credits most recently include Sunlight (ODIN Productions).
Liberty Black as Mary Macgregor, one of Brodie’s girls. Liberty graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2025 and made her professional stage debut in National Theatre of Scotland and Lepus Production’s KELI. Television credits include the upcoming legal drama Counsels (BBC Scotland) and The Doghouse (Hat Trick Productions/BBC).
Dyfan Dwyfor is Teddy Lloyd, the art master at Marcia Blaine. He most recently appeared on Scottish stages in The Seagull at the Royal Lyceum Theatre. Other recent stage credits include Nye (National Theatre), The Man in the Submarine (Perth Theatre), Life is a Dream (Royal Lyceum Theatre) and The Twilight Zone (Almeida West End). Screen credits include Pride (Pathe), The Passing (Severn Screen), Outlander (Starz), A Very English Scandal and Reputation (BBC).
Brian Ferguson is Gordon Lowther, the singing master at Marcia Blaine. In 2024, Brian appeared in the BBC reboot of Ian Rankin’s Rebus in the BBC reboot as Michael Rebus, with his performance being nominated for Best Actor at the RTS Scotland Awards. Other television credits include The Ipcress File, The Dark (ITV), Department Q (Netflix), The Spanish Princess (Channel 4/Starz), Elizabeth is Missing and Shetland (BBC). He most recently worked with National Theatre of Scotland in Cyrano de Bergerac (with Citizens Theatre and Royal Lyceum Theatre). His previous NTS credits include Anything That Gives Off Light, Black Watch, Rupture and Snuff. Other theatre credits include White Nights (Pitlochry Festival Theatre), A Number (Royal Lyceum Theatre), Oil (Almedia Theatre), Hamlet (Citizens Theatre), Earthquakes in London (National Theatre), The Dark Things, The Guard (Traverse Theatre), The Drawer Boy and The Trials (Tron Theatre).
Sophie Fortune as Joyce Emily, a pupil at Marcia Blaine. Sophie trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and was most recently seen on stage in Inexperience (Pitlochry Festival Theatre). Previous theatre credits include Between the Lines (Glasgow Museum of Modern Art), Let the Right One In, That Hopey Changey Thing and The Cherry Orchard (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland), and The Multiverse is Gay and Seven Against Edinburgh (Lyceum Young Company).
Tallulah Greive as Monica Douglas, one of Brodie’s girls. Tallulah played Orla the feature film Our Ladies, and was longlisted for the Breakthrough Performance category at the British Independent Film Awards in 2021. She most recently appeared on Scottish stages at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in The Seagull, and Anna Karenina (co-produced with Bristol Old Vic). Other stage credits include Coram Boy (Chichester Festival Theatre/Lowry). Other screen roles include Boarders (BBC/Studio Lambert), My Lady Jane (Amazon Prime) and Cinderella (Sony).
Shreya Khaund Marshall as Jenny Gray, one of Brodie’s girls. Shreya is a third year acting student at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. This is her professional stage debut.
Bobby Rainsbury as Sandy Stranger, one of Brodie’s girls and her special confidante. Bobby is best known for her role as Maura Grant in the Outlander spinoff, Blood of my Blood. Her other screen credits include upcoming feature film Hillside Drive (Element Pictures) and Sam Mendes Beatles film (Neal Street Productions), The Witcher, Department Q, The Crown (Netflix), Summerwater (Channel 4), The Death of Bunny Munro (Sky), Karen Pirie (ITV), Vigil, Holby City and Call the Midwife (BBC). This is her professional stage debut.
“The crème de la crème of Brodie adaptations”
The Theatre Times on The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Donmar Warehouse, 2018
This is the first time that David Harrower’s adaptation of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie has been performed in Scotland, having been originally staged at the Donmar Warehouse in 2018 to critical acclaim. In the Sparkian spirit of reinvention, the 2018 script has been revisited and updated for this National Theatre of Scotland 2026 production.
The original 1966 London stage adaptation was by Jay Presson Allen (Marnie,Cabaret). Scottish productions include Pitlochry Festival Theatre in 1985 and 2009 and at The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in 2003. Gayle Rankin played one of the schoolgirls in The Lyceum production and this 2026 production marks her homecoming to Scotland’s stages.
Vicky Featherstone, director, said: “As we hurtle towards the first day of rehearsal for The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie, I am so excited to be working with this incredible group of actors and creatives, led by Gayle Rankin, and with a spicy new version by David Harrower which seeks to honour everything that Spark gave us while creating something which feels urgent, surprising and fresh.
“We are all looking forward to bringing all the thrilling complexity that is Brodie to life once again for Scottish audiences.”
David Harrower is an Olivier and BAFTA Award-winning playwright and screenwriter. Plays include Blackbird (Olivier Award for Best New Play and Tony nominated), Knives in Hens, Kill the Old, Torture Their Young (Traverse Theatre), Six Characters in Search of an Author, 365, Calum’s Road (National Theatre of Scotland).Film & TV work includes Una, Outlaw King,Lockerbie: A Search for the Truth and the forthcoming The Day of the Jackal Season 2.
Vicky Featherstone was the founding Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Scotland, and she returns to direct The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie with the company, following a decade as Artistic Director of London’s Royal Court Theatre. Theatre credits include: Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, Enquirer (National Theatre of Scotland); Shoe Lady, The Glow (Royal Court); The Outrun (Royal Lyceum Theatre for Edinburgh International Festival 2024). Her production of Krapp’s Last Tape with Stephen Rea recently played in NYC following an earlier presentation at Barbican, London and Pavilion Theatre, Dublin in 2025.
Born in Edinburgh in 1918, Muriel Spark wrote 22 novels including The Driver’s Seat, Memento Mori and The Girls of Slender Means with The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie being the best known of her works. First published in the New Yorker and reissued in volume form in 1961, the novel is set in Edinburgh in 1936 with the central character based in part on a teacher at Muriel Spark’s Edinburgh school, James Gillespie’s School for Girls. The novel was subsequently adapted for stage, film and television.
The poster image for this new production was shot by renowned photographer Rankin, captured at his studio in London. The photos were released on 1 February to mark the birthday of Muriel Spark.
Gayle Rankinsaid: “Working with the legendary photographer Rankin was an incredible experience.
“His deep curiosity as an artist, alongside Vicky Featherstone and me, helped crack open the earliest beginnings of our Jean Brodie—approaching her not just as an icon, a myth or character, but as a real woman for our time.
“We were thrilled to start this journey with Rankin’s lens on her.”
Rankin is a British photographer, publisher, and film director.
Best known for work that is on the cultural cusp and leading future trends, he has produced rule-breaking campaigns for brands such as Rolls Royce, Unilever, L’Oreal, Lego, and Samsonite; creating wide reaching projects for charities including Women’s Aid and Macmillan; and shooting music videos for the likes of Miley Cyrus, Rita Ora and Kelis.
As a photographer Rankin’s portfolio ranges from portraiture to documentary. He has shot The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Kate Moss, Kendall Jenner and Zendaya to name only a few. In 2023 Rankin photographed King Charles III to mark the monarch’s 75th Birthday for The Big Issue magazine.
As a publisher, Rankin co-founded the seminal magazine Dazed & Confused with Jefferson Hack in 1990 and has since published the likes of AnOther and AnOther Man, alongside over 40 books, and the fashion and culture publication Hunger.
His photography has been published everywhere from his own publications to Elle, Vogue, Esquire, GQ, Rolling Stone, and Wonderland, and exhibited in galleries globally, including MoMA, New York, and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.
Rankin said: “It was a thrill and a privilege to be invited to capture the extraordinary Gayle Rankin in the iconic role of the dangerous but alluring Jean Brodie.
“Her power as an actor brought an electric theatricality to the shoot as can be seen in the final images. It was fantastic to collaborate with the National Theatre of Scotland on this production, which I hope I can get to see later this year.”
The Next Stage
The Next Stage is an ambitious new pilot project, inviting young people to create and present their own original performances on the set of a major National Theatre of Scotland production.
In its first iteration, pupils from Aberdeen Grammar School will respond to The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, devising bold new performance pieces that will be shared with an invited audience of teachers, peers and family members on Chloe Lamford’s set, at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen in October 2026.
Touring to The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh (Previews Fri 2, Mon 5-Thu 8 October) Fri 9 October to Sun 18 October; The Citizens Theatre, Glasgow Wed21October to Sat 24 October; His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen Thu29 October to Sat 31 October; Pitlochry Festival Theatre Wed 4 November to Sat 7 November 2026.
National Museums Scotland is launching a public call out for personal stories and garments by Jean Muir, Bill Gibb and Zandra Rhodes. A major new exhibition, A Fashion Odyssey (1 Jul – 12 Nov 2028), will explore the work of these trailblazing British designers in the centenary year of Muir’s birth.
It is hoped the public can help locate treasured garments by these designers and share memories and photographs from those who wore and loved their clothes. There is particular interest in stories that demonstrate the impact of Muir, Gibb and Rhodes in Scotland. Members of the public are encouraged to get in touch with the exhibition’s curators by emailing fashion@nms.ac.uk.
The exhibition will examine the personal design identities of Jean Muir (1928 – 95), Bill Gibb (1943 – 88), and Zandra Rhodes (1940 – ).The designers were brought together in the ‘Odyssey’ room in Fortnum & Mason London in 1970.
Between them they shaped a modern concept of fashion that embraced imagination, identity, innovation and difference. These designers provided an alternative version of what fashion could be at the dawn of the 1970s, a moment of pivotal societal change and a time of political activism and liberation.
A Fashion Odyssey:Jean Muir, Bill Gibb, Zandra Rhodes will bring the trio’s work together again, almost 60 years later. It will reveal how these British iconoclasts presented the public with choice, rather than following the fashion of the day, how their individual design statements were enthusiastically embraced by actresses, artists and pop performers, and how they continue to inspire and influence a new generation of designers.
Georgina Ripley, Principal Curator of Modern & Contemporary Design at National Museums Scotland, said: “Opening just weeks before what would have been Jean Muir’s 100th birthday,
“A Fashion Odyssey will reflect on a pivotal moment in her early career and in the history of British fashion. Reuniting Muir with Gibb and Rhodes will illustrate how each crossed over into the others’ design territories, and how they interpreted themes within fashion in their own unorthodox and individual ways.
“We’re asking the public to help bring this exhibition to life. We know there are beloved garments by these designers hanging in the back of cupboards in Scottish homes, and wonderful stories to be told.”
National Museums Scotland’s internationally significant fashion and textiles collection includes the Jean Muir archive. The archive consists of around 18,000 objects which fully document the design, making, and promotion of her collections from 1962 to 1995.
The collection includes paper patterns, sketches, fabric samples, jewellery and accessories, as well as around 400 finished garments, including some of her personal clothing.
A Fashion Odyssey: Jean Muir, Bill Gibb, Zandra Rhodes Saturday 1 July – Sunday 12 November 2028 National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
“This is a proud day for Scotland’s young people and our education system“
POVERTY-RELATED ATTAINMENT GAP CLOSES FURTHER
Helpline Ready to Support Thousands of Young Scots on Results Day.
Màiri McAllan MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic was in Glasgow today meeting SDS Results Helpline careers advisers ahead of exam results day. Pictured with L to R: Lesley Niven, Lisa Dunn and Greig Paterson
A dedicated results helpline will open today (Tuesday, 4 August at 8am) to support around 148,000 Scottish pupils and students as their Qualifications Scotland results certificates are delivered.
Pass rates for National 5, Highers and Advanced Highers have all increased again, including a record number of National 5 passes. Learners have also achieved a record number of vocational and technical qualifications, up by 121% on pre-pandemic levels.
Congratulating everyone receiving their results today, Education Secretary Màiri McAllan welcomed a narrowing of the poverty related attainment gap compared with both last year and pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Results Day data, published by Qualifications Scotland for the first time, shows:
a record 269,115 National 5 passes and an increase in Grade A percentages
a second annual increase in the pass rate for all three graded national qualifications – National 5 (pass rate 79.2%, up by 0.8 percentage points), Highers (76.7%, up 0.8 points) and Advanced Highers (77.6%, up 0.9 points)
an increase in the pass rate compared with 2019 for National 5 (up 1 point) and Highers (up 1.9 points)
a narrowing in the poverty related attainment gap for A-C passes across the graded national qualifications, with attainment having gone up for both the most deprived and least deprived areas
increases in pass rates and the percentage of A grades for learners with additional support needs across National 5 and Highers compared with last year and 2024
more than 120,000 vocational and technical qualification awards, a record high and a 9.1% increase on last year.
The Education Secretary said: “This is a proud day for Scotland’s young people and our education system.
“My congratulations go to everyone receiving their results. I know how much hard work and resilience it takes to get here and you all deserve enormous credit.
“These are incredibly positive results across the board, with academic passes up at every level – National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher – as well as record numbers of vocational qualifications. This is testament to the breadth and strength of Scotland’s education system, the professionalism of our teachers and school staff and the hard work of our young people.
“It is particularly pleasing to see another narrowing in the attainment gap between the most and least deprived areas.This builds on similar progress in the gaps for literacy and numeracy levels, as well as for the number of young people entering initial positive destinations, which has narrowed by almost two thirds since 2009-10.
“This is welcome progress but we will not be complacent and will continue to do all we can to close the poverty related attainment gap even further, having empowered headteachers and invested £1.75 billion in the Scottish Attainment Challenge over the past decade, with up to £200 million being invested this year as well.
“Curriculum for Excellence aims to prepare young people for their future in life, learning and work, and today’s results show that it is doing that. The diversity of qualifications – whether they are gained through academic study, vocational and technical learning or work-based opportunities – is equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to flourish in the modern world. And the range is wider than ever, with qualifications in sports, creative industries, childcare, engineering and journalism among others.
Helpline Ready to Support Thousands of Young Scots on Results Day.
“For those young people who may be disappointed with their results, I would urge them to remember that there is no wrong path. Teachers, as well as services such as the Skills Development Scotland helpline and Qualifications Scotland Learner Support Hub, are there to help plan your next steps.”
Skills Development Scotland’s Results Helpline is now taking calls for anyone that is unsure on the next steps, whether that is in work, training or further study.
More than 148,000 learners across Scotland will receive their results today – enabling them to progress onto their next stage in education, training or employment.
In its first year of delivering results for National Qualifications and Awards, Qualifications Scotland confirmed that the 2025-26 session resulted in:
Overall attainment rates at A-C increasing at all levels of National Qualifications (National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher)
The poverty-related attainment gap narrowed at all levels of National Qualifications (National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher)
Total number of vocational and technical qualifications – the skills-based awards that unlock training and career opportunities – continuing to increase to more than 120,000
Learners are achieving more National Qualifications and vocational and technical qualifications – but not to the detriment of one over the other
All learners will receive the traditional envelope through the letterbox containing their results and qualifications certificate. More than 67,000 of them have already received their results via email or text from 8am today, having signed up for the My Qualifications Scotland digital service.
Donna Stewart, Scotland’s Chief Qualifications and Examinations Officer, said: ‘Scotland’s learners should be proud of what they have achieved today – we are certainly very proud of them.
‘These results are a testament to their hard work and commitment. The rise in overall attainment at all three National Qualification levels and the increasing attainment in vocational and technical qualifications will rightly be welcomed in classrooms and staffrooms across Scotland.
‘The diversity of qualifications being achieved today is further evidence of the appetite for skills-based, practical qualifications along with traditional subjects, which give learners a variety of options to develop skills and build work experience that employers are looking out for. It is encouraging to see the number of vocational and technical qualifications continuing to grow to over 120,000.
‘The results for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses are evidence of the stable state of the awarding system with assessments working as intended, ensuring that learners were able to demonstrate what they know and can do.
‘I also want to thank my fellow teachers and lecturers; not only the thousands of them who play a critical role as markers and so make Results Day possible but every educator for the work they do every day to support learners, alongside support workers, parents and carers across Scotland.
‘Today is our first Results Day as Qualifications Scotland, and everyone takes our responsibility to deliver for Scotland’s learners very seriously and we feel privileged to have delivered these results to them today.’
Edinburgh College is hosting an Exam Results Day Drop In event this Thursday (6th August) at its Sighthill Campus. The event will give prospective students the chance to speak to lecturers about their applications and course options ahead of the 2026/27 academic year.
From 10am until 1:30pm, the College’s knowledgeable staff will be on hand to discuss potential options following the release of exam results, allowing students to secure places on courses for the upcoming session. Those students who have changed their mind about their original course choice, or are yet to submit an application for college but would like to study this year, are also encouraged to come along.
The Student Services team will also be available to provide advice on funding as well as the access to learning support available at Edinburgh College.
The College offers a wide variety of courses covering a range of subject areas within the Creative Industries, Construction and Engineering, Health, Wellbeing and Social Sciences, as well as Tourism, Hospitality and Business. Courses are delivered in a variety of study modes too, including full-time and part-time options, offering flexibility for students.
If you’re unable to make the event but would still like to discuss your options, the College will have a dedicated clearing phoneline open from the 4th of August until the 14th, from 9am to 4pm, which can be reached on 0131 297 8300.
National charity Independent Age is distributing £1.5 million in funding to projects supporting carers aged over 65 who are living on a low income, and is encouraging local Edinburgh organisations to apply.
The focus for this round of Independent Age’s Older People’s Fund is on improving access to community-based and in-person advice for older carers on a low income, which can make a significant difference to their financial wellbeing.
This funding is aimed at organisations that understand the financial challenges that caring can bring for older people, including reduced income, increased costs, housing issues and barriers to support. The funding is dedicated to support both older carers and the older people they care for, recognising the impact of caring across whole households.
Funding is also available to organisations in the following locations:
Birmingham
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Dorset
Cornwall
Leeds
Grants are for a three-year period, and eligible organisations can apply for:
up to £150,000 (£50,000 per year) for individual applications
or a shared total of up to £210,000 (£70,000 per year) if applying in partnership
This is the third round of this grant funding. In each round, the Older People’s Fund aims to support older people who are more likely to face financial hardship in later life. The previous rounds funded projects to support older women from racially minoritised groups and older private renters.
This round is focused on supporting older carers and the people they care for, as they are at high risk of experiencing financial hardship due to the costs of caring, the impact of being a carer during working age on income in later life, and the complexity of the social security system for older carers.
Morgan Vine, Director of Grants at Independent Age, said:“Being a carer for someone close to you can be physically, mentally and emotionally demanding, and it can often feel isolating.
“Caring can also bring additional costs that many people would not otherwise face. Yet we know that too many older carers miss out on the financial support and advice available to them.
“That’s why we have chosen to focus this round of our Older People’s Fund on improving access to support services for older carers on low incomes, helping them to access the financial support they need.
“We know there are incredible community organisations in Edinburgh already carrying out vital work, and others who may want to reach older carers but don’t have the means to do so. This £1.5 million investment will help them continue and expand the valuable support they provide, ensuring more carers can access trusted advice and services in their local communities.
“We encourage organisations that meet the criteria to visit our website or contact our Grants team to find out more and apply.”
Applications will be held in two stages, starting with an Expression of Interest (EOI). The closing date for submissions for the EOI is 2pm on Wednesday 26th August 2026. Successful EOIs will then be invited to submit a more detailed application for the Independent Age grants panel to consider.
Independent Age is the national charity focused on ending financial hardship in later life. We want every older person to be able to afford to live well.
Our Helpline and expert advisers offer free, practical support to older people without enough money to live on.
Independent Age has provided more than 140 grants since 2021 to local organisations working directly with older people across the UK,
This support has impacted nearly 55,000 older people.
The charity uses the knowledge and insight gained from our services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change.
Patients having blood samples taken at NHS Lothian’s two Emergency Departments (A&Es) are likely to be tested for blood-borne viruses as part of a national initiative to save lives by diagnosing and treating infections earlier.
The testing – which is safe, confidential and optional – will be provided to Emergency Department patients aged 16 and over who are assessed at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh from 4 August, and at St Johns Hospital in Livingston from 1 September.
People may have no symptoms and be unaware they are living with an infection. Of the three viruses that will be tested for, hepatitis C can be cured, and hepatitis B and HIV can be managed with effective treatment so that people can lead long and healthy lives. But if left untreated, these can result in serious illnesses and, in some cases, death.
With around half of Emergency Department patients having blood samples taken as part of their care, the additional tests will enable early detection. If a test is positive, the patient will receive a telephone call within 2 weeks to discuss highly effective treatment options.
Any patient who does not wish to be tested can opt out by letting a member of staff know. This decision will not affect the care they receive.
The initiative, funded by the Scottish Government, follows an NHS Lothian trial. In testing elsewhere in the UK, 1 in 180 patients tested positive for hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV and received specialist follow-up care.
Susan Webb, Director of Public Health, NHS Lothian, said: “This testing is a positive step for public health in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
“It will ensure patients are diagnosed and treated far sooner than they otherwise would have been.
“Early diagnosis improves the clinical outcomes for these patients, and reduces ongoing transmission across our communities. This ties in with the Scottish Government’s drive to eliminate hepatitis C, end new transmissions of HIV and treat people living with hepatitis B – continuing the progress that has already been made.
“The tests are safe, confidential and optional, with the initiative designed to protect and improve health.”
The tests are only for adults attending NHS Lothian’s Emergency Departments because they need emergency care.
Posters about this initiative will be displayed throughout the Emergency Departments, with further information about blood-borne viruses and testing available on the NHS Inform website. All this reminds patients that if they wish to opt out, they should tell a staff member.
Anyone who believes they may have been exposed to a blood-borne virus should seek advice and testing as soon as possible from their GP practice, or from sexual health services at the Chalmers Centre or its local clinics.
