Continue reading FM: ‘UK Government must come clean on Brexit cost to NHS’.
Holyrood’s Committee Conveners are to quiz the First Minister on her Programme for Government again this week.
Continue reading Committee conveners to question First Minister
Challenge expands to include secondary schools
The First Minister’s Reading Challenge is now open to all pupils across primary and secondary schools in Scotland.
Secondary schools, libraries and community groups can now register to take part in the challenge which has been running in primary schools since 2016 and is delivered by Scottish Book Trust.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon launched the third year of the challenge at Renfrew High School, one of the secondary schools that took part in a pilot last year.
She said: “I set up the First Minister’s Reading Challenge to instil a love of reading from an early age. Reading not only opens up a whole new world of adventure, but also helps develop and improve children’s literacy.
“The evaluation of the programme showed it has been well received by pupils, schools and parents in primary schools. It is important we build on that enthusiasm and encourage young people to continue reading as they progress through their education into secondary school.
“Registration for this year’s challenge is now open and I’m looking forward to seeing pupils from P1 to S6 getting involved.”
Headteacher of Renfrew High School Billy Burke said: “We were delighted to participate in the secondary pilot of the First Minister’s Reading Challenge and I have been hugely impressed by how our young people have embraced the opportunity.
“Particularly through the outstanding work of our school library with a variety of external partners, we have developed a vibrant culture of creativity and reading for pleasure throughout the school.
“Literacy unlocks the wider curriculum, and it is fantastic to see our pupils enjoying, embracing and leading in this area of their learning.”
Edinburgh Northern & Laith MSP Ben Macpherson has welcomed the announcement. He said: “The First Minister’s Reading Challenge is a great opportunity to get more children and young people excited about reading.
“With the increasing use of smartphones and computers, it is more important than ever that we promote reading and its power to accelerate learning and boost attainment.
“Following the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for School Libraries announced last week, the Reading Challenge is a great chance for schools and other groups to join a national reading movement.
“I encourage all schools, libraries and reading groups in the constituency to get involved.”
Registration for the First Minister’s Reading challenge is now open
The First Minister’s Reading Challenge is delivered through Scottish Book Trust, funded by the Scottish Government.
995 schools registered for the challenge last year with 235,000 children taking part.
The evaluation of the First Minister’s Reading Challenge is available online.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service remains in attendance this morning at The Glasgow School of Art, O2 ABC and adjoining buildings following Friday night’s major fire. Continue reading Glasgow School of Art fire: operation continues
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has paid tribute to more than 100 Scottish recipients in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Continue reading Queen’s Birthday Honours: First Minister congratulates Scottish recipients
An Edinburgh Napier student shared the stage with Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last weekend after being chosen to speak at the 2018 Youth Climate Summit. Continue reading Napier student shares stage with First Minister at Youth Summit
Holyrood’s Committee Conveners is to quiz the First Minister on her Government’s programme and priorities. In what will now be a bi-annual 90 minute session, the First Minister will face questions on a broad range of issues. The session will take place at 12.30pm on Wednesday (18 April).
Speaking as the session was announced, Chair of the Conveners Group, Christine Grahame MSP, said: “Committees often hear from Government Ministers and officials as they undertake detailed scrutiny of legislation and policy. However this session enables Conveners to question the First Minister directly on the broad spectrum of the Government’s programme.
“There are relatively few opportunities for Conveners to question the First Minister in this way so the addition of an extra session each year is a welcome development.
“This session is not about political theatre. It is an important mechanism through which Parliament can hold the Government to account and I expect Conveners will make full use of the opportunity.”
The session is open to the public, and tickets can be booked via the Parliament’s Visitor Services. The session will also be streamed live on both Facebook and Parliament TV. To watch live, select Committee Room 2 on Parliament TV.
It will take place between 12:30 and 2pm, on Wednesdayl, and will be chaired by Deputy Presiding Officer Christine Grahame MSP.
The last session took place on 25 October 2017.
The ‘First Mentor’ initiative, which gives a young woman aged between 18-23 a chance to be mentored by the First Minister, will run again in 2018. Following the success of the 2017-18 opportunity, a new round of applications opens today. Continue reading First Mentor initiative to run again
The push by employers to recruit more apprentices is on track to deliver 27,000 new Modern Apprenticeship starts by the end of this year, the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has revealed. To end of December 2017, more than 18,700 apprentices were recorded as having started training across the country. Continue reading Scotland on track to recruit 27,000 Modern Apprentices
The First Minister has praised the efforts and resilience of those involved in responding to the recent extreme weather conditions. The worst may be over, but Scotland is still expected to face difficult conditions at the start of the new working week. Continue reading First Minister praises care and response services
