Pupils picking up tools of the trade

NEVER work with children or animals, goes the old show business adage. But as Avoch Primary School pupils Rhuairidh MacDonald and Ella Murray have proved, this ruling certainly does not extend to relatives.

For the pair of P7s decided to take advantage of work experience by putting in a shifts with their loved ones.

Young Ella spent the day with her grandmother Evelyn Murray at Hilton Post Office while Rhuairidh worked with his dad Philip MacDonald at the Donald Mackenzie car garage in Inverness.

The scheme was rolled-out to pupils of all ages right down to nursery level under the Scottish Government’s Developing the Young Workforce in Central Highland (DYWCH) strategy, which “encourages closer working between employers and education providers”.

Avoch Primary School head teacher Lorna Sim said the programme was an opportunity for the youngsters to learn about the variety of jobs that are out there.

She enjoyed seeing the children take part in the wide variety of experiences, which included linking with Edinburgh University via Skype to learn about robotics, and working with professionals from the emergency services, construction, retail, healthcare, agriculture and education.

DYWCH programme manager Andy Maxtone said it was a success.

“One of our key objectives was to build partnerships between education and industry.”

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