Free BBQ on Friday: get your ticket!

Friday 16 September 3 – 5pm

The Amphitheatre, Muirhouse Avenue

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We are having a party to launch the new amphitheatre, built on Muirhouse Avenue. There will be a BBQ and music workshops with Tinderbox Frontiers.

Spaces for the music workshops are FREE but must be booked in advance on 0131 315 2151 or inside North Edinburgh Arts.

The event is FREE.

https://tinderboxproject.co.uk/what-we-do/frontiers-project/

Don’t let a good thing to to waste

Do your bit during Recycle Week

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The City of Edinburgh Council is encouraging residents to get involved in Recycle Week, which started yesterday. The week, which is co-ordinated by Zero Waste Scotland, aims to get everyone in Scotland recycling more by raising awareness of its benefits and promoting easy ways to do more. Continue reading Don’t let a good thing to to waste

Talking rubbish: council crackdown on trade waste abuse

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The city council has set up a Waste Compliance Team to tackle the illegal disposal of trade waste by businesses, particularly around communal bins. The six person squad – a team leader and five wardens – started their inspections last week. Continue reading Talking rubbish: council crackdown on trade waste abuse

Education reforms: Putting teachers in charge

Decentralisation drives improvement plan

“Decision-making must rest with schools” – John Swinney

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Empowering schools to take the decisions necessary to improve children’s attainment will be at the heart of reforms being consulted on in the Scottish Government’s governance review, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said today.

Mr Swinney will formally launch the review on Tuesday, setting out the goal of making schools the key decision makers on children’s education and consulting on how to make that a reality. The review will consider how to best decentralise management to schools and how best to support teachers and headteachers in exercising their new responsibilities.

The Deputy First Minister said: “Our relentless focus will be on how we can build on the many strengths in Scottish education to close the attainment gap and deliver excellence and equity in our schools. We believe that the key to achieving this for all children depends on the quality of teaching and the relationship between teachers and children. That is why we are taking forward our commitment to make schools, their teachers and parents, the key decision makers in a child’s education.

“We have already initiated a range of targeted actions to close the equity gap and reduce classroom workload, but we want to go further. We want to ensure that the whole education system in Scotland is focused on supporting teachers do what they do best – teaching our young people.

“Our starting point is schools must have the flexibility to take the decisions that matter for children’s education. The governance review I will publish this week will begin with the presumption that decision-making must rest with schools. This approach poses the question of how the rest of the system can support teachers, headteachers and parents in that extended role.

“It will also consider how we can involve parents and the wider community better in the life of schools, because we know that there is strong global evidence that greater parental and community involvement promotes children’s attainment and achievement.”

Countdown to Octoberfest

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With less than a month until Edinburgh’s fourth Oktoberfest, event organisers reveal the secrets to ‘absolutely enjoy’ the event:

#1: Let’s get bier!

Oktoberfest is fundamentally about beer. On offer is the one-and-only
Oktoberfest beer called Bavarian Festbeer. It is a dark golden lager with
brownish hue and comes with a touch of sweetness and a strong and slightly
bitter aftertaste. The beer has traveled 993 miles from a respected brewery in
Bavaria to Edinburgh in a 24-thousand-liter beer tanker. During the whole
process, the beer is always kept cool in 2°C to guarantee its freshness. Then,
it is pumped into guests’ glasses through a refined craft system.

#2: Get yourself stuffed

“Oktoberfest is much more than just beer”, claims Carsten Raun, festival
director. A selection of typical Oktoberfest food is on offer such as Hendl
(grilled chicken), Schweinebraten (roast pork), Brezel (bread), and of course,
a lot of wurst (pork sausages). Don’t forget to try Bratwurst, German-specialty
pork sausage, pan-roasted and served hot with slightly-pungent yellow mustard
and fermented sauerkraut (cabbage). A cold beer from tap with a plate of
sizzling Bratwurst would complete your Oktoberfest experience.

#3: Dress to impress

No suit or evening gown needed, you can still impress by wearing traditional
Lederhosen and Dirndl. Lederhosen, short or knee-length leather breeches, is
traditionally made for Bavarian men. Mostly considered as leisurewear nowadays,
it is a perfect costume for Oktoberfest. Dirndl, a classical-looking outfit for
Bavarian women, consists of a bodice, blouse, full dress and an apron. It is
believed that the apron knot implies the woman’s marital status. Make sure you
send out the right signal!

#4: The early bird gets … the best seat
The party tent is limited to 3300 people and tickets for the weekend are selling
quickly, so if you want to attend the fabulous party, remember to book tickets
as soon as possible. Tickets are also available at door if the event is not sold
out beforehand. Don’t forget to turn up early to guarantee entry!

#5: “Cash up”

Even though you can pay by card at the events, it is advisory to bring cash on
hand. It will save you unnecessary hassle and spare you more time to enjoy the
wunderbar atmosphere!
General information:

Date: 5- 10 October | Venue: Princes Streets Gardens West, Red Square
Ticket info: Edinburgh-oktoberfest.co.uk
Email: info@edinburgh-oktoberfest.co.uk
Phone: +44 20 3239 5070 | Press: +44 20 3239 5032