Despite the difficulties in the housing market, Glasgow City Council’s arm’s-length construction company is to take on 140 new apprentices. City Building (Glasgow) has secured sufficient work and funding to increase apprenticeships by almost 40 per cent from last year’s figure of 106. The apprenticeships, comprising mainly electricians, joiners, plumbers and painters, but including other specialist trades such as lift and heating engineers, are being tailored to meet the demands of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the M74 completion and other regeneration projects.
Carbon emissions from Scottish schools are to be included in a pioneering carbon trading scheme from April 2010. Energy use in schools will count towards the total emissions of local authorities under the Carbon Reduction Commitment, a mandatory trading scheme that will encourage local authorities and large businesses across Scotland, England and Wales to reduce emissions. Under the initiative, schools in Scotland will tell their local authority how much energy they use and, supported by the council, strive to bring it down.
Aberdeen City Council needs to find amp;#163;50 million of savings, which is nearly twice the sum that had been widely quoted for months. The figure emerged last week from a report by Susan Cooper, the council’s chief accountant, but the authority insists it is not new, explaining that it combines previously agreed savings with the amp;#163;27 million cuts approved in February’s budget. Kate Dean, the council leader, admitted this week that yet more savings may be needed. But Grant Bruce, Aberdeen secretary for the Educational Institute of Scotland, has had no indication that more education cuts are required.
The first International Youth Advisory Congress on online safety and security has been taking place in London this week. It brought together 140 international delegates aged between 14 and 17 to work with representatives from government, industry, law enforcement and the media. Participants called for worldwide online safety classes and a greater understanding among teachers of the internet’s dangers.
Woodhill Primary in Bishopbriggs was the only Scottish school to receive a European Award for Languages at a ceremony hosted by Sir Trevor McDonald in London this week. “Passeport sante et citoyennete” - or “Passport to citizenship and health” - involved blogs and podcasts on good health and citizenship. Judges described the East Dunbartonshire pupils’ enthusiasm for the technology as “simply overwhelming”.
A new Children in Scotland publication, Adventures in Nature, looks at how the Verona Nature Project - the subject of a feature in The TESS last week - has benefited infants by letting them take risks in the outdoors. The publication can be ordered from www.childreninscotland.org.ukpublications.
