Two Scottish schools have been shortlisted for outstanding secondary of the year at this year’s TES Schools Awards.

St Ninian’s High in Kirkintilloch will compete for the UK title for the second time and faces Our Lady and St Patrick’s High in Dumbarton in the final. The headteacher of Our Lady and St Patrick’s High, Charlie Rooney, is also nominated for headteacher of the year.

Other Scottish nominees range from a tiny primary on Skye, which is spreading the Scottish sport of shinty to schools in Ireland, to a Fife pupil responsible for setting up a school media network:

Portree Primary, Western Isles, for outstanding sporting initiative or partnership;

St Luke’s High, East Renfrewshire, for outstanding literacy or numeracy initiative;

Lewis Phillips, Inverkeithing High, Fife, for the ICT visionaries in education category.

Among the judges is Professor Graham Donaldson, former HMIE chief and author of the Teaching Scotland’s Future report.

The focus of the TES Schools Awards - or TESSAs - remains on the achievement that schools make as a team. However, in response to popular demand, three new categories for individuals were added this year: inspirational teacher; ICT visionary; and headteacher.

Gillian Macdonald, editor of TESS, said: “We are delighted that so many Scottish schools have made it onto this year’s shortlist. We know what good work is going on in Scotland and would encourage even more schools to put themselves forward next year.”

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Park Lane Hilton hotel in London on 6 July.

emma.seith@tess.co.uk.