`Inappropriate online’ teacher struck off
A technology teacher from West Lothian has been struck off the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s register for engaging in inappropriate dialogue with a child. The Fitness to Teach panel found that David McGill - who previously worked at Broxburn Academy in West Lothian and came into contact with the child through her involvement with the Air Cadets - had communicated with her online in 2011 and made sexual remarks, including asking for naked pictures and commenting on her piercings and breasts.
Competition opens for apprentice awards
Skills Development Scotland has launched the search for 2014‘s Modern Apprentice of the Year. The annual awards, now in their 13th year, celebrate the achievements of employers and apprentices in 10 categories, including Apprentice Ambassador of the Year. The deadline for entries is 20 August and the ceremony will be held in Edinburgh on 5 November. For more information, visit www.scotlandsmaawards.com
RNIB Scotland releases DVD for carers
A new DVD to help parents and those working with blind or partially sighted children in the early years sector has been launched by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Scotland. Let Me Play gives advice and examples on how to engage with young children in a way that helps them to make sense of their surroundings. The Scottish Sensory Centre and the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh also helped to produce the 40-minute DVD.
Vikings to join Shetland primary protest
A march against plans to close schools across Shetland is expected to attract hundreds of people to Lerwick next week. Members of the town’s Jarl Squad - who stage a festival each year celebrating their Viking roots - are expected to join the demonstration on Saturday. The event is in response to Shetland Island Council’s proposals to shut four remote primaries and move early secondary years from five junior schools to the new high school in Lerwick to reduce costs.
Glasgow project resurrects dead language
Latin is being brought back to life in inner-city Glasgow through a project teaching the language and its history to primary pupils. Students at Glasgow University have run the scheme successfully at three primaries in deprived areas and it is now being extended to two more primaries and one secondary school.
Students’ anti-knife crime film will `save lives’
Pupils from Greenock have made a film to highlight the dangers of knife crime, three years after a 17-year-old boy at their school was killed. The Inverclyde Academy students worked with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to raise awareness of how otherwise ordinary and responsible young people can get drawn in to violence. Pupil Christopher Knox was fatally stabbed in Greenock in June 2011. The film, entitled Crime of Love and produced by BBC Scotland, is aimed at S1-2 pupils. Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland QC praised the young film-makers, saying: “What they are doing here is ultimately saving lives.”
