Campaigners to make seat belts compulsory on school buses are celebrating the new Seat Belts on School Transport (Scotland) Act coming into force, which requires dedicated school transport to be fitted with the safety feature. Eileen Prior, executive director of Connect (formerly the Scottish Parent Teacher Council), hailed “a step in the right direction”, but warned that belts were still not guaranteed on all journeys to school, such as those on public bus services.

An urgent review of school music lessons has been called for by the Scottish Conservatives’ education spokeswoman. Liz Smith has written to the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee, saying “far too many pupils” are being excluded from music tuition from an early age, “mainly because of cutbacks within local authorities”. She adds that recent data from councils and the EIS teaching union shows “huge variations” in fees and tuition in the subject.

A tennis project at Blairhall Primary School in Fife has dramatically increased sports participation, and has been credited with improving academic performance and behaviour. The programme involves Active Schools staff, parents and the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, which has provided £3,000 funding for the project in the former mining community. Blairhall deputy head Nicola Bow said the coaching had helped to boost self-esteem and aspirations.

A new project is giving children aged 8-17 a chance to share stories through Scotland’s media about the things that matter to them. Applications for Young Media Voices should be submitted by 5pm on 22 August to: jtracey@childreninscotland.org.uk