Muirtown Primary School in Inverness and Glenurquhart Primary School in Drumnadrochit in finals of Scottish Education Awards
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Two primary schools in the Highlands have been shortlisted in three categories in the Scottish Education Awards.
Glenurquhart Primary has been shortlisted for Gaelic Education Award while its headteacher Kerrie Laird is named as a finalist in the Parent and Family Engagement Award
Beth Fuller, a teacher at Muirtown Primary in Inverness, has been shortlisted for Digital Innovator of the Year Award.
The final will be held on Wednesday June 8 at an award gala in Glasgow.
The Digital Innovator of the Year Award recognises educators who are inspiring and successful digital innovators in education who are harnessing the power technology can offer in education to make a daily difference to students and staff alike.
Beth Fuller said the Covid-19 pandemic had been the catalyst to accelerate digital pathways in education.
"Our pupils are our main drivers and as teachers we gain a great deal of inspiration from them," she said.
"The last three years have transformed the ways in which we utilise digital technology within Muirtown Primary School.
"The allocation of Chromebooks, along with the unprecedented lockdown in 2020, provided us with the means and impetus to broaden our digital skills as a school in exceptional and often turbulent circumstances.
"Muirtown Primary certainly rose to the challenge. I am deeply proud to have been a part of it."
The Gaelic Education Award recognises early learning and childcare settings and schools that have developed a positive culture of continuous improvement in relation to Gaelic Medium and Gaelic Learner Education.
The Parent and Family Engagement Award recognises parent, carer and family engagement in early learning and childcare settings, schools and other settings.
Glenurquhart Primary headteacher, Kerrie Laird said the school was delighted to reach the final in two strong categories at this year’s Scottish Education Awards.
"We have developed a multilingual school culture where all the children across the school can learn about Gaelic language, culture and heritage," she said.
"Our Family Learning opportunities have used our close relationship with families and our community to create family learning packs for maths and STEM subjects and a comprehensive Family Learning website as well as utilised links to develop life and work skills.
"This has been particularly important over recent lockdowns to ensure there are fun, motivating learning experiences for children to share at home.
"We are extremely proud of our school community and the recognition that the Scottish Education Awards bring."
Highland Council's executive chief officer for education and learning, Nicky Grant, said the Scottish Education Awards recognised the immense dedication those working in education contribute to young people lives across Scotland.
"To hear the good news that two schools have successfully been shortlisted in categories such as digital innovation, parent and family engagement and Gaelic education is testament to the forward thinking, resilience, and adaptive nature of our schools across Highland," she said.
"We wish Beth Fuller and Kerrie Laird and their schools the best of luck in the final, we are very proud of their achievements."
More information can be found at Scottish Education Awards.
Primary school earns digital award
