School and pupil success in Highland
A number of incredible achievements by pupils and school’s across Highland has been highlighted at today’s meeting of the Council’s Education Committee.
Education Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: “We are very proud of the outstanding achievements of our children and young people in Highland. Our pupils have shown skill in multiple industries including creative ability in photography, film making and animation, in scientific achievement which demonstrates their innovation, and also in sport with one of our pupils achieving the title of Junior Women’s Scottish and British Champion 2021.”
Silver Rights Respecting Award – UNICEF UK
Dalneigh Primary School in Inverness has been awarded the Silver Rights Respecting School Award by UNICEF UK. The Rights Respecting Schools Award is granted to schools that show commitment to promoting and realising children’s rights and encouraging adults, children and young people to respect the rights of others in school. Silver is given to schools that make excellent progress towards embedding the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into its ethos and curriculum.
FilmG awards
FilmG is a Gaelic short film competition promoting and encouraging all aspects of filmmaking from young people to industry professionals. This year, two Highland Council schools submitted entries and have been shortlisted for an award.
Sgoil Staffainn (Staffin Primary School) has 2 short films shortlisted. The P1-P3 film titled ‘Uilleam Uaine’ has been shortlisted for the best production prize and the P4-P7 film ‘Tearlach san Eilean’ has been shortlisted for the best film for under 12 year olds.
Ardnamurchan pupil Parker Dawes and his team of fellow students have their film ‘Spies-R-Us’ shortlisted in multiple categories including for best performance, best film fluent speaker, best young film maker, and best production.
The awards will be broadcast tomorrow 25 February 2022 on BBC Alba.
Local Photography Competition
Ardnamurchan High School pupils were successful in a local photography competition hosted by the Rotary Club of Lochaber. Ellis McConnachie was announced as the winner of the Senior competition and Cheryl MacIntyre announced as runner up in the same category. In the Junior competition, pupil Lexi Duncan was announced as runner up. The competition centred on the theme of ‘The Colours of Nature’ and the photographs are available to view on the school’s Facebook page.
British Downhill Mountain Biking Series
Aimi Kenyon, a pupil from Culloden Academy, has won the Scottish and British Downhill Mountain Biking Series making her Junior Women’s Scottish and British Champion 2021. Following this amazing achievement, Aimi has accepted a place on a World Cup Downhill Race Team which will enable her to race in a number of upcoming competitions including in France, Italy, USA, Canada, Austria and at home in Fort William.
Scottish School’s Hydrogen Challenge
Over 4000 pupils from over 70 schools across the country participated in the Scottish Schools’ Hydrogen Challenge which was won by pupils at Glen Urquhart High School. The challenge aimed to educate pupils on the role of green hydrogen in tackling the ongoing climate emergency, opportunities for careers in this new industry and to help create excitement ahead of COP26 which was held in Glasgow last year.
SCQF Bronze Ambassador Award
Inverness Royal Academy has received their Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Bronze Ambassador Award. The SCQF School Ambassador programme offers schools the opportunity to learn more about the benefits of the SCQF and the wider ways in which it supports learners such as recognising wider achievement. The school’s submission received very positive feedback on the quality of the school’s work and aims to work towards Silver and Gold status in the future.