Mandatory qualifications for head teachers will move a step closer tomorrow when Deputy First Minister John Swinney publishes draft regulations requiring new head teachers to hold a Standard of Headship award before being appointed. The move is part of the Scottish Government’s strategy to improve school education by ensuring head teachers have the leadership skills they need. Continue reading Government moves to strengthen school leadership
ELREC, in partnership with Drummond Community High School, is organising an event in support of refugees in Edinburgh & Lothians on Tuesday 6 December 2016, from 5pm to 7pm at Drummond Community High School, 41 Bellevue Place, Edinburgh, EH7 4BS. Continue reading ELREC to stage Refugees’ Voice event
Primary 6 pupils at Canal View Primary School have come first in an online maths competition run across all City of Edinburgh Council primary schools. The City of Edinburgh City Council Education Convener Cllr Cammy Day visited the school on Tuesday to congratulate the class and to present them with their winning trophy. Continue reading Canal View P6s win online maths competition
Takeover Day at Lauriston Castle
Lauriston Castle has been taken over by school pupils for a day as part of the 2016 Takeover Challenge. Continue reading Primary school pupils storm Lauriston Castle!
An Edinburgh-based carpenter and joiner has been named joint winner of the Adult Apprentice of the Year award by the Scottish Building Apprenticeship and Training Council (SBATC) at a ceremony held in the Scottish Parliament. Continue reading Alexander is Adult Apprentice of the Year
Celtic and Scotland footballer Scott Brown officially opened the new sports hall at Cramond Primary School yesterday. Scott cut the ribbon of the new £1m building with Head Teacher Helen Donaldson and the school’s eight Primary 7 house captains. Continue reading Great Scott! Cramond Primary scores with new sports hall
Minister for Childcare and Early Years, Mark McDonald, has announced that Edinburgh, Aberdeen and the Scottish Borders will be the first three locations for Early Learning and Childcare expansion trials. The Minister made the announcement during a visit to Craigentinny Nursery yesterday.
The trials, which form part of the Scottish Government’s drive to increase the flexibility, quality and quantity of provision, will commence in January 2017 and will test out a variety of models including:
Mr McDonald said: “High quality early learning and childcare plays a vital role in narrowing the attainment gap that is why this Government has gone further than any other in our commitment to expanding free entitlement.
“But, the Scottish Government is not simply determined to increase the amount of early learning and childcare. We are also determined to deliver the flexibility that families need to make best use of high quality childcare.
“Right now, councils work hard to be flexible but we must all acknowledge that too often the system does not offer places where and when families need them. We are going to change that.
“We have already launched a major consultation looking at different options, including blending together ideas like funding following the child and Children in Scotland’s Childcare Commission proposal that parents can opt to receive funding in a childcare account.
“Today, we are launching a series of trials to test various models of delivery for the expansion to 1,140 hours.
“By trialling different delivery models we will be better able to understand what parents and children need and want. The three successful local authorities announced today put forward a diverse range of proposals and I look forward to seeing how these work in practice.”
“As highlighted in research from Heriot-Watt University published yesterday, quality childcare is a key contributor to reducing poverty and tackling inequality. Today marks the latest milestone in Scotland’s journey towards a high-quality, flexible childcare system that helps children, parents and families the length and breadth of the country.”
Councillor Cammy Day, Education Children and Families Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “It’s important for children to experience a diverse education from an early age and the Forest Kindergarten trial project is a really innovative way of enriching their learning as research shows that education outdoors has a really beneficial impact on young people.
“Apart from the positive educational benefits the project will also give pupils from areas of social deprivation opportunities and experiences which may otherwise be limited to them.”
Thursday 24 November 10am – 2pm at North Edinburgh Childcare
Parents and carers are being urged to find out more about the exciting education on offer at their local primary school as part of the annual open day event this week. Every primary school in Edinburgh will be opening their doors to prospective parents and carers with pre-school age children on Wednesday. Continue reading Explore your local Primary School tomorrow
An innovative project to encourage girls at city high schools to become more active is being launched by the City of Edinburgh Council today.
The first ‘Girls Day Out’ conference has been organised by the Council’s Active Schools team and aims to inspire, encourage and support girls to become more active, raise the profile of successful girls and their achievements and educate girls on the power of sport.
The event, which has been organised in partnership with Youth Scotland and sportscotland, will involve more than 150 girls from S1 to S5 year groups across the city who will gather at Wester Hailes Education Centre, from 10am until 2pm.
It will be an interactive, fun packed day where the girls will hear from inspiring female role-models and learn about the power of sport. The day will be made up of a number of workshops including nutrition, a mental wellbeing and alternative physical activity sessions including jump rope, trampolining and PiYo (cross between Pilates and Yoga).
Partners Youth Scotland, who will support the delivery of some of the workshops on the day, have also funded for the girls who attend the conference to be put through the Dynamic Youth Awards which is a peer-assessed awards recognising the contributions and achievements of young people in the 10+ age group.
Councillor Cathy Fullerton, Vice Convener for Education, Children & Families at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Often girls give up sport when they start at high school so ‘Girls Day Out’ is a great way to encourage them to become more active and discover the different and fun ways to achieve this.
“I am sure that the great programme of activities at Wester Hailes today will show the girls the benefits of taking part in PE, sport and physical activity.”
Stewart Harris, Chief Executive, sportscotland, said: “Our aim with Active Girls is to work with our partners to increase participation in PE, sport and physical activity amongst girls and young women. ‘Girls Day Out’ is a terrific way for schools, clubs and hubs to showcase the opportunities available both locally and nationally.
“The Active Schools team here in Edinburgh has put together a very comprehensive and innovative programme to highlight the benefits of an active lifestyle in a fun and interactive way. I’m sure it will be a great success.”
