The Scottish Government

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3 LEARNING IN PRACTICE

Learning in practice

What's going on? Scottish case studies

A wide sense of achievement

A comprehensive school serving rural communities in the Highlands of Scotland (Fortrose Academy) formulated a clear and challenging vision statement: 'all pupils leaving the school and all staff in it will be active global citizens'.

The staff recognised that in order for Global Citizenship to be sustainable, it had to be embedded in the normal work of all subject departments and an integral part of the School Development plan - not as a separate item but as part of raising achievement and improving teaching and learning.
A senior member of staff has been given formal responsibility for the global dimension whilst all staff, pupils, parents and the wider community have been given the opportunity to contribute. Staff have been given time to do extra planning, money to buy resources and opportunities for CPD. They also discuss and share developments of this aspect of their work at regular lunchtime sessions over a free buffet lunch and cakes.

One example of Global Citizenship in the curriculum is English lessons for S3, in which pupils learn about child labour through creative writing and oral work. In one instance they researched the problem, and then became so enthusiastic that the exceeded the requirements of the course and proceeded to write to MSPs and multinational companies. They presented their findings to an assembly attended by Jack McConnell, Scotland's First Minister.

Beyond the formal curriculum, pupils are involved in the management of a vending machine that supplies fair trade, organic and healthy snack options; a Fair Trade tuck shop; and a Fair Trade website. The school is also part of an EU Comenius project together with schools in Poland and Italy. All S2 pupils study 'Life in Malawi' using materials developed from links with schools in that country.

The deputy head observes that 'Global citizenship helps create a good learning atmosphere and gives pupils a wide sense of achievement'.

With thanks to Oxfam

St John Bosco Eco School: Focus on energy

St John Bosco Primary School is a large suburban primary school located in Erskine.

The school has done much work on energy with primary 7 pupils studying renewable and non-renewable energy sources. This led pupils to look into the possibility of the school having its own renewable energy device installed and in 2005 they eventually managed to get a 2.5kW wind turbine erected on the hill behind the playground. It supplies the school with electricity and provides an interactive learning resource for pupils in the area. This turbine is expected to reduce electricity costs at the school by around 14% and is the first of its kind in Renfrewshire. It is an excellent example of 'thinking globally, acting locally' and will allow pupils to see the benefits of renewable energy at first hand.

Primary 6 and 7 pupils worked on a global citizenship project which focused on the knowledge and understanding of social justice and equality and of diversity in the world and for the need to respect our environment and a commitment to sustainable development. A 'Sweatshop' workshop was part of the project run by UNICEF.

The school is very much part of the wider community having displayed information about the Eco Schools work in the local communities of Erskine and Bishopton. They have enjoyed inviting people in from the community to help them celebrate successes.

With thanks to Eco Schools Scotland

Ayrshire coalfields

The Ayrshire coalfields are an area of high unemployment and social deprivation in need of regeneration. An RSPB project was based around the former mining towns of Auchinleck and Cumnock, East Ayrshire, where the upland areas surrounding the populated valleys are rich in biodiversity. There is a strong tradition of recreational use of the uplands but little local knowledge of their national importance for wildlife.

The project worked with 4,436 pupils at 15 primary schools and two secondary schools to:
increase teachers' confidence in dealing with environmental issues;
encourage greater use of the local environment as a teaching resource; and
provide locally-relevant teaching materials.

The secondary schools element of the project dealt with sustainable development using three local issues:
deep and opencast mining;
agriculture; and
energy generation.

With thanks to RSPB

Learning to work together

Historic Scotland has funded a two-year community development officer post in the North West Resource Centre in Lincluden, Dumfries and Galloway. The post was identified as a step change in the Agency's approach to dealing with the continuing issues of vandalism and anti-social behaviour at the site. The development officer was recruited from the area and has taken the community through a community planning exercise, which has involved them in shaping their views and Historic Scotland's plans for the site. The community has set up the Culture and Heritage Committee Active Volunteers to take forward their plans. In 2005 this group hosted Abbey Antics. Attracting a huge local crowd this event has marked a real turning point in the community's relationship with its local monument, with it becoming the focal point of bringing the community together.

With thanks to Historic Scotland

Highland Youth Environment Heritage Programme

BTCV's Highland Youth Environment Heritage Programme provides support for young people who may have been struggling academically at school or college. The programme gives young people aged 14-25 hands-on experience of practical environmental skills through a one day a week, 6-week placement alongside the North Scotland Conservation volunteer team. In addition to the practical environmental projects there is specialist training in skills such as drystone walling and cobbling.

The project focuses on giving the young people an enjoyable and rewarding experience while learning traditional conservation skills. The 'learning while doing' approach gives young people the ability to carry out their own community projects. It also enables them to see why conservation is important and that it offers a rewarding career prospect.

The outcomes of the programme are that the young people become more confident, have positive relationships with the communities they have worked with, stretched their social skills and engaged in an outdoor activity that is good for both their physical and mental health and well-being.

With thanks to BTCV Scotland

Summary of action points

Some action points have already been announced in the Sustainable Development Strategy Choosing our Future ( CoF)

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