This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Schools of Ambition contenders
19/04/2005
Forty-three schools are in the running to become the
first Schools of Ambition.
Selected schools will receive at least £100,000 a year
while on the programme, with further possible support from
private philanthropists.
As well as using the cash to improve their own
performance, the schools will help set new national
standards in excellence.
All but four councils have put forward bids for the
inaugural round, demonstrating a high level of enthusiasm
for the transformation programme.
Speaking at an education reform conference in Edinburgh,
Education Minister Peter Peacock said:
"Our education system is in the top bracket
internationally but we always want to see our schools do
more to stretch, challenge and inspire their pupils.
"The Schools of Ambition programme will help schools do
just that and the fact that over 40 have applied shows how
many want to reach higher. This is a very positive response
and the number of bids exceeded our expectations.
"In terms of current performance, the schools which want
to join the programme span the full spectrum. This is
extremely encouraging as this programme is for schools
wishing to truly extend themselves, wherever they start
from.
"Schools will now be visited and have their plans
intensively scrutinized before a decision is made on which
are ready to become the first Schools of Ambition. And we
will continue to work with those that don't make the first
phase to explore their potential for joining the programme
at a later date - this is a long-term commitment aiming to
transform schools across the whole of Scotland."
The Executive wrote to every council in February
inviting them to nominate schools for the programme.
Forty-two bids were received (involving 43 schools as one
bid in Glasgow is a joint bid).
The schools nominated are:
- Aberdeen City - Northfield Academy and St Machar
Academy
- Aberdeenshire - Fraserburgh Academy
- Angus - Arbroath Academy and Brechin High
- Argyll & Bute - Islay High
- Dumfries and Galloway - Dumfries Academy, Castle
Douglas High and Wallace Hall Academy
- Dundee City - Braeview Academy, St John's RC High,
Morgan Academy
- East Ayrshire - Doon Academy
- East Dunbartonshire - St Ninian's High and Campsie
View School
- East Lothian - Preston Lodge High, Ross High and
Dunbar Grammar
- East Renfrewshire - Barrhead High
- Edinburgh City - Craigroyston High
- Falkirk - Braes High
- Fife - Buckhaven High and Kirkland High
- Glasgow City - Rosshall Academy, St Paul's High,
Springburn Academy and Castlemilk High/St Margaret
Mary's Secondary (joint bid)
- Highland - Inverness High
- Midlothian - Newbattle High School
- Moray - Lossiemouth High
- North Ayrshire - Ardrossan Academy
- North Lanarkshire - Cardinal Newman High
- Perth & Kinross - Blairgowrie High
- Renfrewshire - Linwood High
- Scottish Borders - Hawick High
- Shetland Isles - Anderson High and Scalloway Junior
High
- South Ayrshire - Carrick Academy
- South Lanarkshire - Learning community around
Lanark Grammar, taking in 12 establishments
- Stirling - St Modan's RC High
- West Dunbartonshire - Our Lady and St Patrick's
High
- West Lothian - Burnhouse School
At least 20 schools are expected to join the first phase
of the programme and their transformation will begin when
they return after the summer holidays. Further schools will
join in the autumn and Schools of Ambition will then become
a rolling programme with more joining at a later date.