Charitable status under review
- The charitable status of 40 fee-charging schools will be reviewed over the next two years. The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator has reviewed 13 schools and granted charitable status to over 5,000 new charities using the same test, since taking up its powers in 2006. Chief executive David Robb said the process was ultimately aimed at maintaining public confidence in charitable status.
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Guide for parents is published
- A guide to help schools provide the information that parents want about their child’s education has been published by Alasdair Allan, minister for learning. New versions of school handbooks due out later this year should focus heavily on Curriculum for Excellence, in particular: the school approach to literacy, numeracy and health and well-being; what happens in S4-6; and which subjects are covered and when, including subject choices for exams.
Cash boost for inclusive sport
- New funding has been released to make sport and PE inclusive for all children, following the 11-medal haul of Scottish athletes in the Paralympics. The Scottish government, through Education Scotland, will provide Scottish Disability Sport with pound;125,000 for training of both PE and classroom teachers. SDS chief executive Gavin MacLeod said the training would have a “significant impact on the sporting lifestyles of many young disabled people”.
Secondary school faces closure
- An Edinburgh secondary school may close next summer. The future of Castlebrae Community High will be considered by the council’s education, children and families committee on 9 October. The 200 pupils who attend represent only a third of the potential roll. Castlebrae attracts 31 per cent of pupils in its catchment, with 21 joining S1 last month. The council says the cost per pupil, at pound;10,418, is over twice the city average.
Plans for school on park blocked
- Protesters have won a court battle to block plans for a school on part of an Edinburgh park. Portobello Park Action Group opposes building a new Portobello High on common good land. Paul Godzik, Edinburgh’s convener of education, children and families, has instructed council officers to consider grounds for appealing against the decision. Meanwhile, options around using an alternative site will also be explored. The group appealed after losing a judicial review by the Court of Session.
