School leaders join strike action
- Primary heads and deputes will join strike action over pensions on 30 November. A meeting of the national executive of school leaders union AHDS announced the decision this week, following a ballot earlier this month. In a turnout of 37.9 per cent, 59.7 per cent voted in favour of strike action and 40.3 per cent against.
SQA staff move to new premises
- Scottish Qualifications Authority staff based at Ironmills Road in Dalkeith yesterday began their transfer to new purpose-built offices on the town’s outskirts. The move, which is scheduled to be completed by 28 November, will see the phased transfer of services to Shawfair Business Park, which will be known as “Lowden”, the old Scots word for the Lothians.
Dinner lady up for BBC award
- A dinner lady at Kibble Education and Care Centre in Paisley has reached the final shortlist in the BBC Food and Farming Awards. Carol McMath was nominated for cooking tasty and healthy food for the young residents of the secure unit. She also works with the in-house nurse to ensure the youngsters have an adequate calorie and nutrient intake and encourages them to eat food that does not exacerbate behavioural problems.
Malaysia campus gets go-ahead
- Heriot-Watt University has won a major international tender to establish a new campus in Malaysia - one of the fastest-growing economies in the world - in a pound;20 million investment. The new, purpose-built campus will create opportunities for up to 4,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students to study a range of courses in science, engineering, business, maths and design, with a view to gaining a UK-recognised degree.
New low for the young jobless
- Youth unemployment hit 1.02 million this quarter. SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie said Scotland’s unemployment was lower than that of the rest of the UK and the Scottish Government was delivering 25,000 apprenticeships a year along with guaranteed training or learning for all 16 to 19-year-olds. But NUS Scotland said the Government must ensure its guarantee didn’t just take college places away from other young people, or people of all ages.
