School is shortlisted for education award

May 27 2010 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

PUPILS are being sent to the top of the class after being selected as the finalists in the Scottish Education Awards.

Deans Community High School in Livingston has been shortlisted for the Literacy and Numeracy Across Learning Award to recognise its inter disciplinary approach to learning, while Mid Calder Primary is also nominated.

Deans Community High has developed a project, known as ‘In the Dog House’, between the mathematics and craft and design departments to introduce numeracy skills in a practical situation.

Through this project, pupils at the school have designed, costed and constructed dog kennels before selling them on to the local community.

This involves students identifying the best products to make the kennels and working out the cost of different qualities and sizes of wood.

Students were also encouraged to develop skills in measuring and using different shapes, as well as acquiring an increased awareness of the price of materials and how long it takes to complete tasks.

As a result, pupils have acquired numeracy and mathematical skills through estimating costs, percentages and parameters while developing practical technology skills such as carpentry and joinery techniques.

By working both independently and with their peers, the project has helped students to enhance their communication skills.

The judges were impressed by the school’s method of connecting theoretical knowledge with transferable skills for future learning, work and employability.

The project has allowed pupils to apply a practical approach to learning and has earned the school a place in the finals.

David Dodds, a probationary teacher with the school’s craft and design department, has also been nominated for the coveted Probationary Teacher of the Year Award, in recognition of his part in the project.

Joining Deans Community High School at this year’s awards ceremony is Mid Calder Primary School.

The school has reached the final stages of the Learning Through Technology and Global Citizenship Awards.

Mid Calder Primary School’s The King’s Treasure project was selected by the judges as a sterling example of how technology can engage children in learning.

The King’s Treasure is based on the story of an intrepid explorer venturing into the Amazonian rainforest. Through this online adventure the children have to write to the explorer specifying the skills that they have to assist her with the expedition.

In groups, the children then make their way through the rainforest encountering different species of animals and plants before reaching the Temple of Doom.

At this stage in the project the children must solve their first challenge.

This involves applying technical skills to write a computer programme for a NXT Lego Robot so that it can navigate its way through the maze to the temple. A further five challenges follow on from this.

The project provides a context for children to assume an active role in their learning while acquiring lifelong learning skills such as evaluation and analysis.

Mid Calder Primary School has also been commended by the judges for their Global Citizenship projects which are embedded into the school’s improvement plan and have helped pupils to achieve across a variety of academic subjects.

This has also earned the school a place as a finalist for the Global Citizenship Award at the Scottish Education Awards 2010.

Michael Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, said: “The reality of Scottish education is that we have hundreds of thousands of good pupils, taught by tens of thousands of excellent teachers within thousands of great schools.

“The Scottish Education Awards give us the chance to recognise this and reward the best practice taking place right across the country.

“Individuals such as David Dodds reflect this excellence and are very important in inspiring our young people to learn and develop. While Deans Community High School and Mid Calder Primary School have demonstrated real commitment to supporting pupils to be ambitious and to strive to do better.”

West Lothian Council’s Executive Councillor for Education Andrew Miller, said: “We are delighted that two schools and one of probationary teachers are among the shortlist of the Scottish Education Awards 2010.

“We are committed to delivering quality education to all our students, and our worthy finalists are playing an important role in achieving this goal.”

Local people are thanked for nominating the shining stars of education in West Lothian, who have shown great dedication and commitment to pupils and the community.

The Scottish Education Awards, now in their ninth year, recognise and reward best practice in Scottish classrooms and highlight the achievements of dedicated individuals who have helped young people fulfil their learning potential.

The finalists have been chosen by a specially selected panel of judges who select a winner from each category which will be announced at an award ceremony on Friday, June 18, in Glasgow.