Overly elaborate school uniforms are unaffordable for many families and are stigmatising poor children, MSPs have heard. EIS union assistant secretary Andrea Bradley said that at a time when many families are facing “growing financial difficulty”, schools should review their uniform policies for “things like braiding [and] school-logoed polo shirts”, which she said were “unnecessary fripperies”.
A third Gaelic school in Glasgow will open in 2019, as ministers say demand for education in the language is continuing to grow. Education secretary John Swinney announced that £1.9 million would be invested in the school. But fears have been raised that Gaelic education is declining at exam level and that some Gaelic speakers are feeling so stretched that they are considering quitting.
An Aberdeenshire history and modern studies teacher has been struck off after distressing a depute headteacher by banging both fists on her desk and tearing out clumps of his own hair. Brian Docherty, who was working at Fraserburgh Academy when the incidents took place in 2014, also made unfounded comments about members of the senior leadership team being part of a religious cult.
Teaching bushcraft skills to pupils living in poverty could boost their performance at school, according to Scouts Scotland. The organisation pointed to research suggesting that outdoor activities can lead to “a statistically significant increase in leadership skills”, as well as improvement in attendance, behaviour and academic performance in school. The claim was made to a parliamentary inquiry on poverty and attainment.
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