Review of plans to close Lewis secondary refused
Western Isles Council has confirmed that the Scottish government will not review a decision to discontinue secondary education at Lionel School on Lewis. The school is currently the last two-year secondary in the Western Isles, and the change will mean that from June pupils will have to make the hour-long journey to the Nicholson Institute in Stornoway. Catriona Stewart, the council’s chair of education and children’s services, said the decision was about “providing the best possible education”. She added that although parents and pupils were concerned, it was time to “move on and provide that education for the benefit of the pupils”.
Young photographers capture spirit of Scotland
Emotive images of a sheep’s head, a serene forest and boys jumping off a pier have been crowned the best depictions of “What Scotland means to me” in a schools photo competition. Rona Stewart, a 17-year-old S6 pupil from Kingussie High School in Inverness-shire was named as the overall winner of the competition run by online media service Scran, beating 400 entrants from around the country. Angus Johnston, pictured left, a P7 pupil from Dunbarney Primary in Bridge of Earn, won the primary school category and was also named overall runner-up. Class Tiree at the Isobel Mair School in East Renfrewshire triumphed in the additional support category. The winning pictures will now be available on the picture library service, which is free for schools to use. www.scran.ac.uk
Children’s services petition for mental health cash
A group of independent and third-sector children’s service providers have launched a petition calling on the Scottish government to increase investment in young people’s mental health. An increase in mental health spending was promised in the UK government’s Budget in March, and campaigners are urging politicians to spend Scotland’s estimated pound;25 million share on services for children and adolescents. The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition said that referrals had increased by 60 per cent over the past two years, and that the extra funding could lead to improvements in waiting times, diagnosis and treatment, and reduce the number of young people being sent to non-specialist units. bit.lyMentalHealthPetition
NUS Scotland challenges LGBT bigotry in sport
Students have hit out against prejudice towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in sports. At NUS Scotland’s annual LGBT conference, Lani Baird, the organisation’s LGBT officer, said: “Sports shouldn’t just be for straight, macho types - it’s for anyone who wants to get stuck in and be part of a team.” An NUS report in 2012 found that only a third of LGBT students at college or university participated in organised team sports, and one in seven said homophobia, biphobia or transphobia had put them off.
College offers teachers free dressmaking lessons
Secondary school teachers are being offered the chance to learn traditional skills and gain insight into the textiles industry. Places are still available for the introductory workshop in pattern-cutting and dress construction, to be held at Dumfries House in Ayrshire on 5 and 6 May. The class will take teachers through the process and enable them to pass on the skills to pupils. The workshop is part of the Future Textiles programme, run by Glasgow Clyde College, which will deliver the session in partnership with Dumfries House and the Scottish Textiles Academic Group. The event is free of charge and all equipment will be provided. bit.lyTextilesWorkshop
