Latest news with #ShawlandsAcademy
Glasgow Times
30-06-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow pupils recognised for achievements beyond grades
The students from across Glasgow have been honoured with the inaugural Ken Muir Award for Exceptional Achievement. This award celebrates personal growth, resilience, and workplace readiness, highlighting the value of skills that extend beyond exams. Dominic Rogers, William Brand Armstrong, Adam Marchbank, Greta Fraser, Euan Ward, Mark Vassie, Sarthak Gupta, and MacKenzie Carss were among 86 recipients across Scotland. Read more: Glasgow pupils save 12kg of food waste per day in new school pilot Professor Ken Muir with Dominic Rogers from Bishopbriggs Academy (Image: Supplied) The students are all S5 and S6 pupils from Bishopbriggs Academy, Drumchapel High School, Eastbank Academy, Hillhead High School, Jordanhill School, King's Park Secondary School, and Shawlands Academy. Eilidh Richmond, a teacher at Shawlands Academy, said: "We're incredibly proud of our pupils for receiving the Ken Muir Award. "What's been most rewarding isn't just seeing them earn a qualification, but witnessing the confidence, maturity, and resilience they've developed along the way. "They've learned to communicate more effectively, work collaboratively under pressure, and reflect meaningfully on their own growth. "These are life skills that will stay with them far beyond school and into the world of work. "This recognition is truly well deserved." Professor Ken Muir with MacKenzie Carss from Shawlands Academy (Image: Supplied) The award is named in honour of Professor Ken Muir, a key advisor to the Scottish Government on education reform and a contributor to the 2023 report It's Our Future – Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment. He has called for reforms to Scotland's education system to better prepare students for the future. Professor Muir said: "We need a culture shift in Scotland's education system. "Of course, grades are important – but so is working hard, reflecting on progress, and growing as a person. "These awards are symbolic of this shift. "They celebrate personal development, resilience, communication, and teamwork. "These are all critical attributes that help young people thrive in life and in work." Read more: MSPs pass legislation to abolish Scotland's exams body All award recipients completed the Powering Futures Challenge Programme, a nationally delivered course equivalent to a Higher qualification focused on preparing senior pupils for the workplace. More than 1000 pupils across Scotland earned an SCQF Level 6 qualification through the programme. However, the award winners stood out for their exceptional personal development, including growth in confidence, teamwork, and communication skills. Now in its fourth year, the Powering Futures Schools Programme challenges pupils to tackle real-life business and industry problems in teams, in order to develop essential meta-skills while building valuable connections with employers. Jennifer Tempany, co-founder of Powering Futures, said: "These awards highlight the often-overlooked achievements that sit beyond academic results, but which can inspire confidence and purpose in young people as they go into the world of work. "We are proud to play our part in helping young people see their potential, and congratulate every recipient, including those from Glasgow, for their well-earned achievement."
Glasgow Times
15-06-2025
- Science
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow's Shawlands Academy earns national STEM award
Shawlands Academy has received the STEM Nation Award from Education Scotland for its work in promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The award recognises effective STEM practice and supports the Scottish Government's vision of becoming a world-leading STEM nation. Read more: University of Strathclyde spin-out secures £750k for cancer technology Pauline Carr, headteacher at Shawlands Academy, said: "We are delighted to be awarded the STEM Nation Award. "It is great to have the STEM work in our school recognised nationally. "I am so proud of all the staff and young people who have worked on this project. "The increased focus on STEM opportunities has helped different young people – even those who may not have traditionally engaged with STEM – to develop and widen their learning. "The increased STEM options have also helped young people to access a variety of positive destinations such as apprenticeships, college, university, and employment." The STEM Nation Award is a key part of Scotland's STEM Education and Training Strategy. It aims to equip learners with the skills needed to thrive in a changing world and to support growth in sectors such as the green economy, energy, space, and life sciences. To earn the award, schools must provide evidence of strong leadership, community involvement, employability links, partnerships, curriculum development, and equality in STEM education. Shawlands Academy was praised for its clear vision and data-driven approach to building a sustainable STEM learning environment. The school aims to create a lasting STEM legacy by fully embedding STEM across its core curriculum. Read more: Hospital reaches 'important milestone' with University of Glasgow Gillian Hamilton, chief executive of Education Scotland, said: "We are delighted that Shawlands Academy has achieved the full STEM Nation Award. "STEM subjects give all young people important skills for their future lives and work, and the skills developed from doing STEM subjects are used in many different jobs from cooking to commerce, finance to farming, and much more. "Shawlands Academy has demonstrated rich, engaging, and varied STEM experiences for learners, and we hope that this success will encourage even more of Scotland's schools and settings to apply for the STEM Nation Award." Shawlands Academy joins 52 other educational settings in Scotland that have received the STEM Nation Award, while more than 310 others have registered for the programme. The award is open to early learning and childcare centres, schools, and community learning providers. More information on the STEM Nation Award, including how to apply, can be found via Education Scotland's STEM Nation blog.
Glasgow Times
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow's People's Palace launches pop-up exhibitions
Glasgow's People's Palace, a museum dedicated to the city's social history, is currently undergoing a multi-million pound renovation funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund and Glasgow City Council. To mark the city's 850th anniversary and keep its stories accessible during the closure, two curated pop-up displays are touring venues across Glasgow. The first display, Capturing the Moment: Glasgow then and now, launches at the Burrell Collection on Friday, June 13, and runs until Thursday, June 26, before visiting more than 20 venues citywide and ending at Parkhead Library on Sunday, December 21. Read more: No trains to run on part of major Glasgow railway line this weekend The exhibition features photographs by amateur photographer Eric Watt, who documented life in Glasgow from the 1950s to the 1990s. It was developed in collaboration with pupils from Shawlands Academy, who selected images, wrote captions, and contributed their own contemporary photographs of Glasgow with guidance from photographer Robin Mitchell. Shawlands Academy pupils helped with the development of the exhibition (Image: Robin Mitchell)) Robin said: "I was delighted with the way the Shawlands Academy pupils responded to the brief. "They tackled it with real enthusiasm and came up with a rich and varied combination of images for the exhibition. "It was a pleasure working with everyone on the project." The second display, Our People's Palace, begins its tour on Friday, June 20. Curated by Friends of the Pipe Factory, a community group based in Calton, and supported by Glasgow Life Museums, the exhibition features artefacts from the People's Palace collection, including Benny Lynch's world championship boxing trophy and Mary Barbour's gold medal. Read more: New 10-year strategy aims to get Glaswegians more active Friends of The Pipe Factory group members curated the display (Image: Supplied) Benny Lynch's championship trophy and the Corporation gold medal awarded to Mary Barbour will feature in the exhibition (Image: CSG CIC Glasgow Museums and Libraries Collections) A member of Friends of the Pipe Factory said: "This has been a very positive experience for us all. "We were encouraged to find our own representations of Glasgow within the project." We hope that the final exhibition really speaks to those who see it.' Bailie Annette Christie, chair of Glasgow Life and convenor for culture, sport and international relations at Glasgow City Council, said: "It is appropriate that during this landmark year for the city, these two special displays celebrating its heritage and social history have been created and curated by local people from our communities. "As we continue to celebrate Glasgow 850 over the coming months, I'd encourage everyone living in, working in, or visiting the city to ensure they make time to fit in a visit to both fascinating People's Palace pop-ups, which really encapsulate the unique character of our vibrant city and its wonderful citizens, past and present."
