Broughton High School staged a showcase event yesterday to thank agencies, organisations and businesses that have supported Broughton pupils over the last year.
Broughton’s Partnership Group was only established last year but the group has already built a considerable support network among voluntary sector community organisations, public bodies and private sector companies – many of whom were represented at the showcase event alongside Broughton staff and membes of the school’s Parent Council.
These included – and this is far from an exhaustive list – Ernst and Young, Pilton Community Health Project’s counselling service, Community Learning and Development, Active Schools, Police Scotland, Red Cross, Screen Education Edinburgh, Lyceum Theatre Company, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Out of the Blue, Western General Hospital, Science Festival, Standard Life, Scottish Business in the Community, Co-operation Education Trust Scotland, Catherine Wheels Theatre Company … you’ll get the picture!
The event was held to show how pupils benefit from the many business and support partnerships that Broughton are already involved with, and also to highlight how this has positive benefits for both the partners themselves, school pupils and the wider community.
In a short film, pupils told how the support of external partners has had a positive impact on their lives – whether through increasing self-esteem and self-confidence or by offering new and different opportunities and learning new skills.
Broughton’s Head Teacher John Wilson summed up: “We’re now seeing a variety of services centred around the school – far more than used to be the case. School and education is no longer just about the basics, teaching pupils to read and write – there are now so many other elements to be considered.
“Because of that huge diversity, where once we could look at education as a triangle – with the school, the parents and the pupil as the three sides – the triangle has had to develop a fourth side. It’s become a rectangle; partnerships have become that fourth side. As the inspiration film has shown, your support and encouragement has made such a huge difference to these young people. Thank you”.
And thank you, too, to the Health and Food Technology pupils who provided the freshly baked scones, shortbread and cakes for the showcase event!
