A national plan to “prevent and eradicate violence against women and girls” is being expanded with more than £1 million extra government funding. “Equally Safe” includes measures to teach schoolchildren about consent and healthy relationships. Sandy Brindley, of Rape Crisis Scotland - whose work will now reach more schools - said: “If we are serious about ending sexual violence and harassment in Scotland then prevention work is key.”

A teacher has been struck off after making lewd remarks to a pupil and a colleague. David McGhee was a religious education, history and modern studies teacher in Aberdeen when the incidents took place. A General Teaching Council for Scotland fitness-to-teach panel observed that “many of the allegations involved a course of conduct of a sexual nature towards female colleagues”, as well as “inappropriate conversations with pupils”.

A pupil from Oban High School has been selected for the new Scottish Education Council. Rowan Watkins, 17, is one of five young representatives. The council, announced last month and chaired by education secretary John Swinney, will also include teachers, education leaders and local authority representatives, in “a forum for frank and open discussion” about successes and failures in Scottish education.

West Lothian is the first local authority in Scotland with pupil “ambassadors” for online career service My World of Work in every secondary school. The young volunteers help promote the service to parents, teachers and pupils. West Lothian has 109 ambassadors from S3-6, across its 11 secondaries.