Recognition Express and BRAKE are making a last call to primary school children to enter their Road Safety Week design a road safety banner competition. Continue reading Last call for entries in schools road safety banner competition
Tag: schools
A new dawn for Victoria?
High School receives free author residency
Forrester High School in Edinburgh has been chosen to receive an author residency from Scottish Book Trust. Author Victoria Williamson will work with the school on a specific creative project. Continue reading High School receives free author residency
A new vision for School Libraries
Hundreds of young people have informed the development of a new joint strategy to ensure every child in Scotland will have access to a dynamic school library.
The national strategy for school libraries is the first of its kind in the UK. The strategy includes 20 action points to support the improvement of literacy and numeracy, boost attainment across the curriculum, and enable opportunities for family learning.
The strategy will ensure school library services:
- Are delivered to all pupils from Early Learning and Childcare to secondary school
- Foster strong links among schools, families and carers
- Offer creative approaches to learning across the curriculum, including STEM related and digital activities
- Are included in schools’ improvement plans
Pupils shared experiences of how their school librarian had built their confidence in reading and highlighted how the school library supports their wellbeing, a key theme in the strategy:
“I found people like me at the library” – S1, Inverclyde Academy
“The library is my second home” – S5, Inverclyde Academy
“Coming to the library is my favourite part of school” – P6, Aviemore Primary
“If you’re in the library, you can clear your mind by reading a book” – P6, Aviemore Primary
A specialist group will now be formed from key stakeholders to oversee the implementation of the strategy’s aims and report on progress.
Speaking ahead of the publication on International Literacy Day, Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, said: “School libraries have a vital part to play, throughout the learner journey from 3-18. They support literacy, numeracy, and health and wellbeing, improving attainment across the Curriculum.
“This strategy seeks to make libraries the vibrant hub and epicentre of our schools, promoting an appreciation of literature, an understanding of information literacy and a place of contact, friendship, dialogue and reassurance.
“I am pleased to endorse this strategy and look forward to working with stakeholders, headteachers and library staff to implement it over the next five years.”
Councillor Stephen McCabe, COSLA Children and Young People spokesperson said: “We are pleased that the National School Library Strategy recognises the many practical and innovative ways in which local authorities deliver library services to children and young people.
“The strategy will be a valuable blueprint for all of those involved in developing and delivering school library services to ensure all children and young people get the best from their education.”
Teaching vacancies concern for Briggs
With school in Edinburgh having been back for the last two weeks, there are still a worryingly high number of teacher vacancies. Teaching posts for a range of subjects are still vacant, including head teaching posts. Continue reading Teaching vacancies concern for Briggs
Homes near top schools command £73K price premium
- Parents pay a premium of almost £73,000 (36%) on average compared to average house prices across Scotland
- Average property prices have reached £277,134 near Scotland’s top 20 state secondary schools
Parents need to pay an average of £72,973 more to live in the catchment area of a top performing state secondary school in Scotland, according to new research from Bank of Scotland showing that average prices in these areas have now reached £277,134. Continue reading Homes near top schools command £73K price premium
Swinney announces more support for parents
Exam success for city pupils
The nervous wait is finally over today (Tuesday 7 August) as 8,000 pupils across Edinburgh receive their exam results. Early indications are very positive with candidates from City of Edinburgh Council schools once again making improvements on their performances in most areas from last year. Continue reading Exam success for city pupils
General Teaching Council figures reveal Brexit slump in EU teacher recruitment
The number of teachers from the EU applying to teach in Scotland has plummeted over the past year, according to figures from the General Teaching Council of Scotland (GTCS) revealed by Holyrood magazine. Continue reading General Teaching Council figures reveal Brexit slump in EU teacher recruitment
Edinburgh pupil wins First Minister’s Reading Challenge Award
The winners of the First Minister’s Reading Challenge 2018 were announced at an event in Edinburgh’s Hub yesterday. Among the 17 winners to receive prizes from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was Liberton Primary School pupil, Ian Hammer, who received the award for the Pupil Reading the Most Books (upper primary). Continue reading Edinburgh pupil wins First Minister’s Reading Challenge Award