Reminder – Climate Week 2014 (3rd – 9th March)

Climate Week 2014 is fast approaching. It is Britain’s largest climate change campaign, with half a million people attending over 3,000 events each year.


Climate Week is about how people can live and work more sustainably, and you can run any kind of event or activity you wish. Here are some ideas:

Don’t forget to enter the Climate Week Challenge, a competition for small teams in schools and workplaces. It needs no preparation, is free and helps develop innovation and teamwork. There are one-hour and one-day versions – register here.

Also enter the Climate Week Awards for professional achievement that is helping to create a more sustainable society – click here to find out more. Deadline – February 14th 2014.

Run a Climate Week Swap event at which people can exchange clothes, books or children’s toys they don’t want any more – find out more here.

Please remember to register your events and activities with Climate Week – they will then be listed as an official part of Climate Week, encouraging others to take part and so growing the movement for environmental change.

International Collaboration on School Improvement project

Education Scotland has been asked by the British Council to be part of a pilot project, International Collaboration on School Improvement, which is designed to build international partners specifically around self-evaluation.

The project will involve 24 secondary schools from across Scotland who will be paired with 24 secondary schools in Hong Kong. The partnership will be a virtual one where participants will work together to learn collaboratively, share ideas and good practice.

The programme is for secondary school headteachers who are currently working on improving their self-evaluation for improvement as a core part of their school improvement plan. The programme will be funded and facilitated by the British Council and supported by Education Scotland.  Education Scotland will host the training days.

The commitment required from headteachers in Scotland is as follows:

  • Attendance at three days facilitated training on 18, 19 and 20 March 2014 in Denholm House, Livingston
  • Collaborative work with their Hong Kong partner
  • Attendance at two  facilitated training days in October 2014 to share experiences and evaluate the project.

We have asked for expressions of interest from headteachers who would like to be considered for this project.  Headteachers who are interested must have the support of their local authority. In the first instance they will be asked to write a brief statement (no more than 250 words) explaining clearly why they should be included in the project, how this will support other developments in their school and the intended benefits to learners.

We look forward to working with the British Council to deliver this project and will share future developments and evaluations with you.

Creative Pupils Invited to ‘Impress’ at the Scottish School Media Awards.

Pupils attending Scotland’s 422 secondary schools are being encouraged to submit their print or online ‘newspaper’ for the Scottish School Media Awards, with the best of the entries from Scotland’s young creative talent being revealed at a ceremony in Edinburgh six months from now.

The awards aim to encourage young people into careers in publishing and the creative industries, and are of particular interest to pupils who have an interest in writing, photography, design and business, giving them a unique opportunity to demonstrate their organisational skills, team work and creative flair, while gaining hands-on experience in managing a project from start to finish.

Organised by major Scottish company Menzies Distribution, the awards also aim to support the Curriculum for Excellence by building confidence and showing how different school subjects can come together as part of a wider learning experience.

There are 14 categories, from outstanding features to the most exceptional finished magazine or newspaper. Pupils have until Wednesday 30 April to submit their entries, with the imPRESS judging panel looking for projects that have evidence of strong content and commercial thinking.

Students can be guided by their teachers but the ideas, content, design and business strategy must be pupil-led. Winners of the awards will be invited to a special ceremony to be held in Edinburgh on Friday 13 June.

For more information and to register visit www.impressscotland.co.uk

Primary technologies conversation day 28th February 2014

Education Scotland is holding a conversation day focused on technologies within primary on Friday 28th February, Jury’s Hotel Glasgow. This event is aimed at any primary practitioners or school leaders interested in this area.  We are keen to take stock of how schools and centres are delivering learning in the technologies and we would like to hear your views and experiences.

 The purpose of the day is to:

  • look at where technologies needs to go and what is needed in order to best support all learners.
  • identify areas that require further support and what that support needs to look like.

 There will be opportunities to hear from a variety of stakeholders, including practitioners as well as time for discussion.

 If you would be interested in attending please contact diane.carson@educationscotland.gov.uk. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please note travel expenses are not paid for conversation days.

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