Category Archives: Rosshall Academy

Youth for Equity: session 2

Stories that matter: exploring homelessness and racist prejudice
The second session of the Youth for Equity project took place at Hillhead High School on March 26th, focusing on two key social issues: homelessness and racism.
We began the day with a powerful workshop led by a representative from Simon Community Scotland. He spoke about the realities of homelessness in Glasgow, the charity’s work, and the impact they’re making in local communities. Students responded with enthusiasm—asking insightful questions about how to help, raise awareness, and ensure the safety of those working on the front lines.

 

 

After a short break, we welcomed Etienne Kubwabo, a Glasgow-based comic book creator and filmmaker. Etienne is the author of Beats of War, a comic set in Glasgow and featuring Scotland’s first Black superhero. He shared how his personal journey, including his experiences with racism, has shaped his creative work. He emphasized how art and storytelling can be powerful forces for social change, encouraging students to use creativity as a way to challenge injustice and express identity. Students were encouraged to reflect on representation and identity by designing their own superhero characters. From this superhero gallery, Etienne will select the top three entries and feature one of them in his next comic.
Want to hear more from Etienne? Check out the interview he did with some of our students!
Looking ahead, our third session promises to be just as inspiring, with The Black Curriculum joining us for a workshop this May to teach accessible and engaging Black histories, encouraging social cohesion and knowledge development in young people.

Empowering Young Voices: The “Youth for Equity” Library Project

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This year, four school libraries (Drumchapel High school library, Hillhead High school library, Rosshall Academy library and St Mungo’s Academy library) are taking part in an inspiring initiative called “Youth for Equity,” a project funded by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC).

The project brings together focus groups of S1-S2 students from each participating school for three interactive sessions centered around critical social issues: LGBTQ+ rights, homelessness, and racism. With the support of three incredible charities—TIE (Time for Inclusive Education), Simon Community, and The Black Curriculum—students are given a platform to explore these topics through discussion, writing, and creative expression.

Project launch at Drumchapel High School Library

The first session took place on March 12th at Drumchapel High School Library, where students had the opportunity to attend a session with TIE and South Asian actor, playwright and comedian Sanjay Lago.

Sanjay shared his powerful poetry and personal experiences, encouraging students to embrace the strength of their diverse voices. Through interactive exercises, he inspired them to write their own poems—showcasing the value of storytelling and self-expression in shaping a more inclusive world.

This session marked the beginning of a journey where young people are not only learning about equity but also becoming active participants in shaping a more just society.

Stay tuned for updates on the upcoming sessions as we continue to explore these important conversations through the lens of creativity and collaboration.

 

Rosshall Participatory Budgeting Session – Books Now In!

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The books from our Participatory Budgeting session with pupils have arrived in the library! These were chosen by groups of BGE and senior pupils. They all did a great job choosing books to add to our collection.

We chose from a selection of books addressing themes of feminism, misogyny and inspirational women and novels celebrating female friendship and strong female characters. The focus of the PB session was chosen to tie in with part of the school improvement plan looking at tackling misogyny and gender-based violence.

I also added a few more titles to the list to add to our collection. These will all be on display in March as part of our International Women’s Day celebrations.

 

Rosshall Participatory Budgeting Session

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In November some of our pupils helped to select books for the library through a participatory budgeting session. Pupils were asked to select from a range of books including non-fiction,  fiction, junior books and young adult books. The focus was on books with strong female protagonists, books depicting positive female friendships and books tackling issues such as misogyny and gender based violence. This theme was chosen to tie in with the goals of the school. A massive thanks to all the BGE and Senior pupils who helped to choose the books. The order for our new books has been sent and we are now awaiting delivery. Look out for a display of these books when they arrive.