Enterprising Pupils Show Off Their Work

Pupils from Highland schools today (Wednesday 1 June) showcased their projects at a special event to highlight their new skills learnt through an enterprising approach to learning and teaching.

At the event, held in the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness, pupils were joined by Highland businesses who have been working with schools to help the young entrepreneurs see the practical application of their learning.

Guest Speaker Karen Darke opened the day with an inspirational presentation. Karen was a keen runner and mountaineer before becoming paralysed in a rock-climbing accident, and has since pursued alternative ways to access the outdoors – canoeing, skiing, and hand-cycling. She has hand-cycled in various corners of the globe, from Central Asia over the Himalayas, the length of the Japanese archipelago, New Zealand, Turkey, Iceland. Karen founded the Scottish Hand-Cycling Club and Integrate Paddling, and competes for Britain as a member of the Trail Orienteering Team.

Raigmore Primary have taken an innovative approach to the health of both pupils and staff gaining Level 4 as a Health Promoting School. Primary four pupils gave a fascinating presenting on their Enterprising Health CD Rom project, before everyone was given a chance to exploring all the different showcases.

Donald Jack, The Highland Council’s Enterprise In Education Development Manager said: "Fourteen primary and secondary schools from Inverness, Nairn, Lochaber and Ross & Cromarty all came along to showcase their work. The day has been a great success. It has given businesses who have been involved a chance to see the hard work of the pupils and all the young people should be very proud of their achievements."

Primary Schools taking part were Kirkhill, Farr and Central from the Inverness Area; Millbank Primary in Nairn; and from Ross and Cromarty, Torridon, Inver, Inverasdale, Avoch and Mulbuie Primaries and St Clements Special School. Secondary schools taking part were Glen Urquhart High School, Nairn Academy, Lochaber High School and Ullapool High School.

After lunch Ross County Football Club ran some activities before pupils and businesses took part in a selection of workshops.

This event showcases examples of partnerships between education and business which are being supported by the Scottish Executive initiative on Enterprise in Education, Determined to Succeed, Determined to succeed is the Scottish Executive’s strategy for Enterprise in Education. It aims to help Scotland’s young people develop self-confidence, self-reliance and ambition to achieve their goals - in work and in life.

8 May 2006