Category: News

Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood Education

As part of their Personal and Social Education (PSE) programme, all pupils across all year groups will be learning about Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP).

All of the learning materials used in school are available to view at www.rshp.scot, allowing parents and carers to see the full range of age-appropriate resources and topics covered.

You can also find an informative PowerPoint presentation below, which explains the purpose and importance of RSHP education in supporting young people’s wellbeing and understanding of healthy relationships.

If you would prefer to deliver this learning at home and do not wish your child to take part in the school lessons, please contact your child’s Pastoral Care teacher via email.

Arran – Ms Armour
Lewis – Miss McTaggart
Mull – Ms Gibson
Skye – Mr Samson
All – Ms Bertolini
Caledonia Centre – Mrs Ogilvie

Pupils Attend Hackathon in Edinburgh

During the October holidays, three of our pupils, Iqra Sarwar(S6), Mirren McDonald(S6) and Rita McVey(S6), took the initiative to attend an exciting Next Tech Girls x Motability Operations Hackathon held at Motability Operations’ Edinburgh office.

The event brought together 19 young women aged 16–25 from across Scotland to take on real-world business challenges and develop creative, tech-based solutions. Participants collaborated in teams, exploring problem-solving, coding, and presenting their ideas — all while gaining valuable insight into careers in technology.

One of our pupils, Mirren McDonald, shared her experience:

“It was honestly one of the best work experiences I’ve attended yet because it gave us all an insight into real-life problems and let us propose solutions to them. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is thinking of attending one in the future!”

The Hackathon provided a fantastic opportunity for participants to build confidence, teamwork, and digital skills in a supportive and inspiring environment. As shared by the event organisers, an incredible 94% of attendees left more interested in pursuing a career in tech.

We’re incredibly proud of our pupils for choosing to spend part of their holidays developing their skills, meeting like-minded young women, and representing our school community so positively.

Well done to all involved — and thank you to Next Tech Girls and Motability Operations Ltd for hosting such an empowering and inspiring event!

Pupil Voice – You Said, We Did!

Feedback Fridays – September Feedback

Attached is a summary of all your feedback in September. many of you will contribute to sharing your views with our inspection team in October and we look forward to sharing that in November!

 

YPI Launch for S3

Our S3 pupils have been working hard this term as part of the Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) – a national programme that empowers young people to make a difference in their communities. Through YPI, students learn about the needs of their local area by researching and selecting a social issue that matters to them. They then identify a local charity that supports that cause and prepare a powerful presentation to advocate on its behalf.

Each class works in teams, developing their research, teamwork, and presentation skills along the way. The programme not only helps students build confidence and empathy but also deepens their understanding of real-life challenges faced by people in their communities.

By Christmas, all teams will have completed their projects, and the best team from each S3 class will be chosen to compete in the school final. The stakes are high – the winning team will secure a £3,000 grant for their chosen charity, generously provided by the YPI programme.

This initiative offers a fantastic opportunity for our students to engage with real-world issues, take meaningful action, and see firsthand the impact their voice and effort can have. We look forward to seeing the creativity and passion they bring to the final presentations!

BAE Systems Women in Engineering programme

The four day hybrid event will introduce candidates to the exciting world of engineering and what it is like to work for BAE Systems. Opportunities are available for school and college leavers, as well as individuals seeking a new challenge. The programme will be delivered virtually and with some on-site activity, spread across four separate days in January and February 2026. To be eligible for the experience, please refer to the entry requirements on the website.

Upon successful completion of the experience, candidates may be offered an interview for a full time position on one of BAE Systems Engineering Apprenticeships, starting in August 2026.

Applications: Women in Engineering or via the QR code on the attached flyer

Applications close 10 November (or earlier, depending on the volume of applications)

S3/4 Volleyball Tournament

Well done to our S3/4 Volleyball team who were competing in the West Region Volleyball Tournament. Our A team qualified for group 2 in the afternoon and went on to win group 2.

Our B team won 8/8 qualification games to qualify for group 1 to then face some of the best volleyball teams in the West of Scotland.

Our C team qualified for group 4 and then went on to win the group.

Also a big well done to Karen who was voted overall Girls MVP for the whole tournament!

Hospitality Events

Our Hospitality classes hosted their first event this year with great success! Pupils launched a Deliveroo-style service opting for baked potatoes and creating the brand ‘Po-Tasty’. Pupils worked hard to plan and deliver this event showing great creativity and leadership skills to provide 26 staff lunches offering a range of homemade fillings from chilli’s to classic cheesy beans. Pupils enjoyed the process of delivering the lunches and collecting staff feedback, with ideas racing for their next event. Staff were delighted with their baked potatoes and amazed by the range of toppings and quality of food produced by pupils. The classes are now working hard to pull together their next event they hope you will be very fond-ue of!

Sporting Success For Zak

A massive well done to Zak Nicol (S6, Arran) who recently competed in the wave event at Rhosneigr in Wales. Zak had an excellent event and finished 6th overall. Zak is currently in Tiree for round 3 of the UK wave series, he is sitting joint 6th in the UK standings going into the competition.

We are extremely proud of Zak and wish him the best of luck for his upcoming competition- we have no doubt you will do exceptionally well.

Well done and Good Luck!

S2 Project Based Learning

This term, our S2 pupils have been immersed in a unique Project-Based Learning (PBL) experience inspired by the concept of Solarpunk—a hopeful vision of the future where sustainability, community, and innovation go hand in hand.

The project began with a dramatic scenario: a simulated plane crash in a remote location. Pupils were challenged to imagine how they would rebuild society from the ground up. Around the “campfire,” they explored big questions about politics, law, the environment, and social values, sparking deep and thoughtful discussions.

As the project progressed, pupils took on the exciting task of designing their own nations. Each group created a flag, wrote a national anthem, and drafted a constitution that reflected their vision for a fair, inclusive, and sustainable society. These creative exercises encouraged pupils to think critically about identity, governance, and the principles that underpin a thriving community.

Through collaboration, creativity, and debate, our S2 learners have shown incredible imagination and maturity. Their Solarpunk societies are not only inspiring but also a powerful reminder of the kind of future our young people can help build.

We’re proud of their work and look forward to sharing more as the project continues!

Students Selected for Morgan Stanley Insight Week

We are delighted to announce that Max Jagielka (S5, Mull) and Harry Grant (S6, Lewis) have been successfully accepted into the Morgan Stanley High School Insight Week in Glasgow during the October break.

This is a fantastic achievement and a real testament to their hard work, ambition, and potential. The insight week will give both of them a unique opportunity to experience first-hand what industry is like — from the day-to-day of a corporate environment to exposure to technology, business operations, and professional networks.

Over the course of the programme, Max and Harry will:

  • Engage with insight sessions, workshops, and presentations from industry professionals
  • Work on real-world challenges and case studies
  • Gain exposure to what it’s like to work within technology, finance, and corporate teams
  • Network with peers and mentors, building connections that could support their future choices

Please join me in wishing them every success as they embark on this exciting week. We look forward to hearing their reflections and learning from their experiences when they return.

Week 7 & 8 in the Caledonia Centre

It has been a lively and rewarding two weeks here at the Caledonia Centre! We recently set up two new BGE classes, and it’s wonderful to see all our pupils feeling much more positive and engaged with the new arrangements. A special moment was when one of our S1 pupils was joyfully reunited with a friend from S2—having spent lots of time together in primary school, their reunion brought smiles all around.

In the BGE Katrine room, pupils have been combining creativity and learning by using playdough to explore French numbers. It’s great to see hands-on activities making language learning fun and interactive!

Last week, we were delighted to welcome a visit from our QIO, Mrs. Sim, who recognized many of our S1 pupils from their primary schools. It was a lovely chance to catch up and share progress.

Our cooking sessions are back in full swing, and this week the pupils made some delicious fruit breads. We’ll be sharing photos soon—stay tuned!

Meanwhile, our S3 pupil has been leading an exciting project, building a bridge as part of pupil-led learning. The big question now is: How many bricks can it hold? We can’t wait to find out! Our S4 English class have been developing skills in communicating straightforward information through letter writing, focusing on clarity and purpose. This practical work helps pupils express ideas clearly in everyday situations.

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Work Experience Placements

We are very excited to offer work experience Placements to senior pupils in S5 and S6 at the end of November. This will be based on the Workit system and will be tailored to suit you career pathway (where possible, pilot may be a stretch!)

Below is a link to work it for more information for parents and pupils, if you are interested please see Mr Samson in pastoral care.

https://www.workit.info/

 

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