Highland Council praises Glen Urquhart pupils’ work on Slave Trade.

Pupils from Glen Urquhart High School were recently invited to Highland Council headquarters, to showcase their work on the Slave Trade.

Council Leader Drew Hendry welcomed the pupils and their teachers as he viewed an exhibition that the school put on display for Council members. He said: “I am certain that the Council’s Fair Trade working group could pick up some pointers from the Glen Urquhart project. Highland Council supports the principle of Fair Trade and sustainable production and we are look at progressing Fair Trade status for the Council area as a whole.”

Education Scotland has included Glen Urquhart High’s work in its recently published audit of Social Subjects in Scotland and recognised it as a model of good practice.

The unit of work produced at the school this year, demonstrates one of the key features of a Curriculum for Excellence – interdisciplinary learning.  It involved the History Department (Mr Graham Russell), Music Department (Mrs Julie Valentine and Miss Lauren Tait) and High Life Highland library staff (Mrs Christine Matheson and Mrs Helen Allen). The conclusion of their studies coincided with Fair Trade fortnight (Feb 28-March 13) during which time the pupils and staff organised a Fair Trade Coffee Morning. The school is now working towards becoming a Fair Trade School.

Mr Russell said that he “…felt the learning experience was really enhanced by the pupils studying the topic from two different curricular areas.  This gave pupils a deeper and wider understanding of some of the social issues connected with the Slave Trade.”

Mrs Anne Macaulay, Acting Head Teacher of Glen Urquhart High School was also present on the Council visit she said she was ‘…thrilled to have the good, hard work of staff and pupils at the school recognised in this way.” 

The presentation to the Council was organised and overseen by Miss Lindsay Snodgrass, Social Studies Development Officer in Highland.