It’s great to shout out about these two school successes

Jun 19 2009 by Les Stewart, Deputy Editor

FULL marks to Perth High and Perth Grammar School teachers and pupils after they scooped two of the top awards at this week’s Scottish Education Awards in Glasgow.

Presented by BBC Scotland’s Sally Magnusson and comedian Des Clarke, the ‘Oscars’ recognise all that is good in Scottish education.

The Grammar were particularly delighted to receive the Ambition Award while the High walked off with top honours in the International Schools’ Award category.

Both schools were told in March that they had reached the shortlist – and two months later they were visited by assessors who spent a day in each establishment, evaluating their work in their respective categories.

As frequently happens in many schools, changes in pupils and teaching personnel can have a dramatic impact – and not always for the better.

So it was all the more satisfying for headteacher John Low to accept the award.

“It’s a lovely recognition of the school’s journey and everything we have come through,” he said.

The High School, where Jim Scott is at the helm, was recognised for its wide-ranging international contacts in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America.

And already they are planning to extend that to India, South America and Australia.

Newspapers are often criticised for carrying negative stories about bullying, drugs and anti-social behaviour at schools so it’s doubly satisfying to report on the two Perth successes.

It all helps to broaden pupils’ horizons and enriches their learning experience.

The two Perth awards help to illustrate just some of the many exciting and innovative initiatives that are currently underway in Perth and Kinross schools.

Keep up the good work!