Flying visit to the Western Isles and Skye
Over the last few days I have had the pleasure of visiting a range of schools in the Western Isles – including a school that my wife taught at – and seeing some old friends as well as meeting new faces.
My visit began with a memorable flight from Glasgow to Barra, flying over Argyll and the Sound of Mull on a perfect day, and then landing on the famous Traigh Mor, the only runway that is washed twice a day by the sea.
My first stop in Castlebay, the capital of Barra, was to the Croileagan, or nursery school where I launched a Gaelic DVD which is aimed at helping those teaching the early years to take account of Curriculum for Excellence. I then visited Castlebay School, along with the Chief HMI, Dr Bill Maxwell where we met the management team and parent representatives. Later on during my visit I met a number of young teachers who have just come to the school this term, including several who had come from the mainland to take up their jobs in the Western Isles only a week or so ago. I went to work in Benbecula at about their age, but back in 1977 – and I got a lot of the experience, as I am sure they will. They will also bring a lot to the school.
The final visit before leaving for North Uist was to Eoligarry School, where the children all joined in to sing a lovely song in Gaelic – the first of many musical treats on my travels!
Moving north, I started the next day with a visit to Iochdar Primary, where I was greeted by a piper, before being given a tour of a school that I last visited in around 1982! I remember it well, and now I have a new souvenir, for I was presented with a lovely painting by the pupils which I shall hang in my office in Edinburgh. The artwork of all the pupils we saw in Uist was excellent, testament to an excellent itinerant art teacher working in Uist. But I was also given something that will give more immediate satisfaction – some potatoes grown by the children in the Iochadar Croileagan.
Next we paid a brief visit to Teampuill Na Trionaid the ruins of an ancient college at Carinish in North Uist. A community group is working with Historic Scotland to develop a programme of work which will stabilise a site which needs to be preserved but which is being badly damaged by the elements. The group have wide support and I was happy to make an extra unscheduled visit, and I was very impressed with their enthusiasm and dedication.
Then it was quickly on to Sgoil Lionacleit and another musical treat, as I was welcomed by the schools pipe band which this year competed at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow. During this visit I formally opened a new building that will allow pupils to study work based courses including construction skills and crofting, followed by a short journey to a local croft where pupils were learning to tag lambs. This was a particularly impressive illustration of the importance of vocational education and its adaptation to support vital local skills.
The last event on Tuesday was the third in my series of public discussions. Around 45 parents and staff gathered in the hall of Ballivanich Primary in Benbecula to put their questions to the panel of Joan MacKinnon, Director of Education for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Leslie Evans, Director General of Education in the Scottish Government and myself.
Topics ranging from Curriculum for Excellence, the new baccalaureate qualifications, international comparisons and funding for Higher Education were discussed during a lively session that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Wednesday began with a visit to Paible School in North Uist, where, amongst other things, I saw a very impressive way of displaying the achievements of young people as they relate to the four capacities in Curriculum for Excellence. It is something that should be copied elsewhere. I also visited two Gaelic medium primary classes, which – like the Gaelic medium classes in Iochdar – were full of life and enthusiasm. Gaelic medium really helps young people to develop confidence and fluency and is a good investment for the future.
My Uist trip finished with a call on another nursery unit – this time at Claddach Kirkibost, which is run by the community interest company in a building which also houses meeting and community support facilities and an excellent small cafe and restaurant. The company also makes and sells the “Hebridean Kitchen” range of locally produced foods.
After that it was goodbye to the Western Isles and – after a trip across the Minch – hullo to Portree High School in Skye, where I launched a pilot run by NESTA, which allows second year pupils to choose educational experiences ranging from building a rocket to making their own radio show. I also presented the “Gaelic Community of the Year ” award to the Staffin Community, who are making sure that Gaelic is a vital part of their village life. And both of these events took place to the sound of another school pipe band – that belonging to Portree itself.
Finally, it was a visit to Sabhal Mor Ostaig, where I launched CalMac’s new online toolkit designed to help their staff learn Gaelic – a fantastic resource which could be of use to many other organisations – and discussed higher and further education with the dedicated team who run the college.
It was a busy three days – leaving home at 7.00 am on Monday and getting back at 11.30 pm on Wednesday. But it was fun and I hope useful for me and for those I met. And I always love visiting Na h-innse gall.
Michael Russell Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning