Project adds up

Mathematics

Aberdeen’s Harlaw Academy is working with Holmes Partnership, the architects designing new council headquarters at Marischal College, to create an S1 maths course. The idea is to teach traditional topics in practical, real-life settings. The partnership was brought about through Learning and Teaching Scotland’s Excellence in Education Business Links.

Talk the talk

Languages

Two S3 pupils at Glasgow’s King’s Park Secondary “talked their way to Brussels” when they won a speaking competition run by the Scottish European Educational Trust in the EU headquarters. Glen Melville and Eilidh Shearer won the event, which involved a three-day visit with a tour of the European Parliament, sponsored by David Martin MEP.

Tweet idea

Art

Birds are safer at Loch Leven national nature reserve, thanks to work by 19 pupils from Hillside School in Aberdour, Fife, and Scottish Natural Heritage. They built intricate wooden animal silhouettes which add a striking feature to local trails while giving extra protection to ducks, geese and swans from passing walkers and cyclists.

Just the job

Work experience

Twelve pupils from Douglas Ewart High, Dumfries and Galloway, took part in a course to give them a fresh perspective on jobs in the hospitality, tourism and catering industry. Over two days they toured facilities at local hotels and an outdoor activity centre and took part in hands-on sessions on customer care, marketing and food preparation.

Band together

Music

Fifty-five secondary pupils from Angus performed with the Royal Marines Concert Band Scotland last month. The band, based on HMS Scotia in Rosyth, held a masterclass at Montrose Town Hall before an afternoon performance. Montrose Academy head Bruce Pandrich said it was a “fantastic opportunity” to learn from the world-renowned musicians.