‘Festival of Farming’ gets underway

THE Royal Highland Education Trust’s (RHET’s) “Festival of Farming” has begun. More than 3,000 school pupils are due to visit Scotland’s farms over the next fortnight. Alistair Marshall, chairman of the RHET, said: “Our ‘Festival of Farming’ will run from 7 to 18 November and, during this time, we will have a designated webpage where…

Read More

Science award for Strathallan Prep School

STRATHALLAN Prep School has been awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM). The accreditation recognises the quality of science teaching at the preparatory school in Perthshire. Pupils have been receiving science talks from palaeontologists, an oil engineer, dental students from the University of Glasgow, and a bird breeder. Clare Angus, head of prep school science,…

Read More

Schools news round-up: Glenalmond, Belhaven Hill, and more

Peter Ranscombe rounds-up the latest news from Scotland’s schools. GLENALMOND College in Perthshire has unveiled a countryside management course accredited by the Business & Technology Education Council (BTEC). The school is the first in Scotland to offer the BTEC qualification, which could lead to jobs in farming, land management, or surveying. As well as gaining…

Read More

St Leonards and Ardvreck triumph at schools contest

TWO Scottish institutions have carried off prizes at the Independent Schools of the Year awards. St Leonards School, which is based at St Andrews in Fife, won the “Independent School of the Year for International Student Experience” category. Ardvreck School, a preparatory institution based at Crieff in Perthshire, shared the “Independent Prep School of the…

Read More

Ready Player One: Strathallan opens ‘esports’ suite

PUPILS at Strathallan School can now play “electronic sports” (esports) against each other in a new facility. “Esports” are computer games that are played on professional equipment, with Scotland fielding an esports team at this summer’s Commonwealth Games. “It’s a great time to be a student at Strathallan,” said former pupil Josh Martin. Martin, who…

Read More

Strathallan School pupils spread their wings

FORMER pupils from Strathallan School in Perthshire are starting their university courses after celebrating their exam results. Charlotte Gilmour, who was the Perthshire school’s captain, is in Boston as she starts her first semester at Harvard University. Gilmour, who was also the captain of the girls’ rugby team at the independent school and a player…

Read More

Merchiston Castle goes co-ed for ‘forest school’

Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh has unveiled plans to open a “forest school” in its grounds for both boys and girls. Forest schools, which involve teaching children in the outdoors, have become increasingly popular in recent years. The independent boys’ school will open a outdoor nursery school in September 2024 for children aged between three…

Read More

Edinburgh’s Christmas unveils plans

IT MAY only be August, but Edinburgh’s Christmas is today sharing plans for its festivities. Markets will return to the Mound precinct, East Princes Street Gardens, and West Princes Street Gardens. New sites are also proposed, with a “Scottish market” on Castle Street and an “artisan market” across High Street and West Parliament Square, both…

Read More

Miss Scotland’s Ciara Harvie singing in Edinburgh

MISS Scotland finalist Ciara Harvie is singing in Edinburgh’s St Andrew Square this weekend to raise money for Smith-Magenis Syndrome Foundation UK. The 23-year-old classical-crossover singer, who appeared on television series The Voice, will perform in the square from 1pm on Saturday and Sunday. “Music completely changed my life, and this is the reason why I…

Read More

Strathallan School swimmer and coach go to Olympics

A SWIMMER and his coach from Strathallan School will represent Great Britain at this summer’s European Youth Olympic Festival. Evan Davidson and Strathallan’s head of swimming, Elaine Johnston, will join a 16-strong junior squad heading to Banská Bystrica in Slovakia. At 15, Davidson is one of the youngest swimmers selected for the squad. He was…

Read More