Where to park Portobello High?
- Portobello Park is the best location for building the new Portobello High, a report presented to Edinburgh City Council yesterday confirmed. Council leader Andrew Burns, education convener Paul Godzik and local government minister Derek Mackay agreed to use a private bill in the Scottish Parliament to deliver this option.
ChildLine’s primary focus
- ChildLine has announced a new service that will see local volunteers visit every primary school in Scotland by 2016 to deliver workshops and assemblies aimed at helping children understand abuse and how to keep themselves safe. The charity is calling for 200 volunteers for the scheme, which will encourage younger children to recognise situations where they may need help and let them know where they can get support if needed.
Sistema granted #163;1.3 million
- Music project Sistema Scotland has been granted #163;1.3 million by the government to aid its expansion into Govanhill. The organisation plans to establish a Big Noise Orchestra in the area - one of Glasgow’s most deprived - having already worked successfully with hundreds of children through its scheme in Stirling’s Raploch area. Deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon said that Sistema Scotland’s Big Noise Orchestra could improve confidence, health and well-being.
Council to tackle youth job trouble
- The Scottish government has awarded #163;248,000 to East Ayrshire Council to tackle youth unemployment. The money, plus European social funding, will allow 123 16- to 19-year-olds searching for a learning or training opportunity to receive targeted support. Youth employment minister Angela Constance also announced that the Community Jobs Scotland programme would create 1,400 jobs in 2012-13 across Scotland - 400 more than planned.
Scottish students protest in London
- More than 1,000 Scottish students took part in a national protest march in London this week to campaign against the impact of Westminster government policy on education. Robin Parker, NUS Scotland president, said while the Scottish government could do more, the Westminster government was responsible for other problems - the youth unemployment crisis, fees for students from elsewhere in the UK studying in Scotland and colleges losing their ability to recruit international students.
