Research finds pipe band participation can help close the attainment gap
The difference was particularly significant for pipe-playing pupils from the most deprived areas: 40% attained one or more Advanced Highers, compared to 10.5% nationally.
Researchers from the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT) and Preston Lodge High School in East Lothian tracked attainment statistics for 78 Preston Lodge pupils between 2014 and 2024.
The results showed that students in the pipe band achieved more qualifications and had better overall outcomes than their peers.
According to the study, 52% of pipe band members attained five or more Highers, compared to 39% nationally and 27% at Preston Lodge; 41% left school with one or more Advanced Highers, compared to 18.7% nationally.
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The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) identifies areas of deprivation in the country and is commonly used to measure the attainment gap between Scotland's most and least disadvantaged students. The index uses income, employment, education, health, access to services, crime and housing to assess deprivation and is typically split across five quintiles from most deprived (SIMD 1) to least deprived (SIMD 5).
Results from the Preston Lodge study found that 45% of pipe band pupils from the most deprived areas left with three or more Highers, compared to 38.2% nationally. The difference was greater at Advanced Higher level, where 40% of pipe band pupils earned at least one qualification compared to 10.5% nationally.
Preston Lodge was one of the first schools in Scotland to take part in the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT) pipe band programme, which provides grants, free instrument loans, internships and other opportunities to make music tuition more accessible.
Preston Lodge Head Teacher Gavin Clark said that the impact of piping at the school is 'impossible to overestimate.'
'Our Pipe Band has grown significantly over the past two decades from a tentative group of new players in 2007, into the flourishing figurehead of our school and its community it is today.
'While we've always known that our young people of all ages and abilities, across the primary and secondary sector, have benefited immeasurably from the skill development and self-esteem building that piping and drumming can provide; we now have evidence which indicates that pipe band participation has also had a significant impact on their attainment at school.'
There are 100 members across the school's three bands, with another 100 connected pupils at its feeder primaries.
In response to the study, many alumni said that the findings reflected their own experiences of being in the pipe band.
High school teacher and former band member Hannah Yorkston said that being in the band helped her form relationships and provided an outlet that increased her confidence away from schoolwork.
Kerilee Doran echoed this, saying that the band served as a place of respite for students from all walks of life.
'What made it special was the way that we all worked together and got along, regardless of our background.
'It was looked at as a place where many could escape from anything that was going on at home and just have fun and really enjoy what you were doing.'
Jordan Smith added that the musical skills he learned were far outweighed by the relationships he made.
'The band is simultaneously a friendship group, a learning experience, a safe space and support network, a chance to travel, an outlet for emotion, a self-discipline builder and a music group.
'The camaraderie and enthusiasm that the whole band shared for playing with each other, bringing together people with a variety of backgrounds to do so, is an experience I was incalculably lucky to be part of.'
SSPDT Chief Executive Lindsay MacKenzie said that the Preston Lodge study could lead to changes in education policy and new ideas for making school more accessible to pupils from all backgrounds.
'While previous research has linked learning an instrument to academic achievement, such opportunities are more easily accessible to affluent students. However, this study demonstrates that pipe band membership attracts and retains students from all socio-economic backgrounds, including the most deprived areas.
'Crucially, the findings suggest that students who remain in a pipe band programme for an extended period show significantly higher attainment levels across all SIMD groups when compared to national averages.
'This evidence supports the idea that structured, well-resourced musical engagement – specifically within pipe bands – can provide a powerful tool for educational equity.'
Ms MacKenzie added that more schools and music tutors across Scotland should try to replicate the study and improve
'This study provides strong indications that our investment in school pipe bands is delivering real educational benefits.
'While this is not a large-scale study, its decade-long scope and consistency in findings suggest a significant impact that could be replicated across Scotland.'
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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Research finds pipe band participation can help close the attainment gap
A ten-year study of high school pupils found that those in the pipe band achieved more qualifications than the national average. The difference was particularly significant for pipe-playing pupils from the most deprived areas: 40% attained one or more Advanced Highers, compared to 10.5% nationally. Researchers from the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT) and Preston Lodge High School in East Lothian tracked attainment statistics for 78 Preston Lodge pupils between 2014 and 2024. The results showed that students in the pipe band achieved more qualifications and had better overall outcomes than their peers. According to the study, 52% of pipe band members attained five or more Highers, compared to 39% nationally and 27% at Preston Lodge; 41% left school with one or more Advanced Highers, compared to 18.7% nationally. Read More: Exams 2025: What to expect on results day Man charged with attempted murder after 'stabbing' police officer, escaping in dinghy Kate Forbes' exit is bleak foreshadowing of the future for women in Scottish politics The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) identifies areas of deprivation in the country and is commonly used to measure the attainment gap between Scotland's most and least disadvantaged students. The index uses income, employment, education, health, access to services, crime and housing to assess deprivation and is typically split across five quintiles from most deprived (SIMD 1) to least deprived (SIMD 5). Results from the Preston Lodge study found that 45% of pipe band pupils from the most deprived areas left with three or more Highers, compared to 38.2% nationally. The difference was greater at Advanced Higher level, where 40% of pipe band pupils earned at least one qualification compared to 10.5% nationally. Preston Lodge was one of the first schools in Scotland to take part in the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT) pipe band programme, which provides grants, free instrument loans, internships and other opportunities to make music tuition more accessible. Preston Lodge Head Teacher Gavin Clark said that the impact of piping at the school is 'impossible to overestimate.' 'Our Pipe Band has grown significantly over the past two decades from a tentative group of new players in 2007, into the flourishing figurehead of our school and its community it is today. 'While we've always known that our young people of all ages and abilities, across the primary and secondary sector, have benefited immeasurably from the skill development and self-esteem building that piping and drumming can provide; we now have evidence which indicates that pipe band participation has also had a significant impact on their attainment at school.' There are 100 members across the school's three bands, with another 100 connected pupils at its feeder primaries. In response to the study, many alumni said that the findings reflected their own experiences of being in the pipe band. High school teacher and former band member Hannah Yorkston said that being in the band helped her form relationships and provided an outlet that increased her confidence away from schoolwork. Kerilee Doran echoed this, saying that the band served as a place of respite for students from all walks of life. 'What made it special was the way that we all worked together and got along, regardless of our background. 'It was looked at as a place where many could escape from anything that was going on at home and just have fun and really enjoy what you were doing.' Jordan Smith added that the musical skills he learned were far outweighed by the relationships he made. 'The band is simultaneously a friendship group, a learning experience, a safe space and support network, a chance to travel, an outlet for emotion, a self-discipline builder and a music group. 'The camaraderie and enthusiasm that the whole band shared for playing with each other, bringing together people with a variety of backgrounds to do so, is an experience I was incalculably lucky to be part of.' SSPDT Chief Executive Lindsay MacKenzie said that the Preston Lodge study could lead to changes in education policy and new ideas for making school more accessible to pupils from all backgrounds. 'While previous research has linked learning an instrument to academic achievement, such opportunities are more easily accessible to affluent students. However, this study demonstrates that pipe band membership attracts and retains students from all socio-economic backgrounds, including the most deprived areas. 'Crucially, the findings suggest that students who remain in a pipe band programme for an extended period show significantly higher attainment levels across all SIMD groups when compared to national averages. 'This evidence supports the idea that structured, well-resourced musical engagement – specifically within pipe bands – can provide a powerful tool for educational equity.' Ms MacKenzie added that more schools and music tutors across Scotland should try to replicate the study and improve 'This study provides strong indications that our investment in school pipe bands is delivering real educational benefits. 'While this is not a large-scale study, its decade-long scope and consistency in findings suggest a significant impact that could be replicated across Scotland.'
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7 days ago
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Emancipation Day talk to highlight Haldimand's Black history
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Hamilton Spectator
30-07-2025
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She lived through more than a century
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In her lifetime, she saw another World War and another pandemic which swept the globe. In her personal life she experienced the early loss of both parents and was widowed right when she was looking forward to enjoying her retirement with her husband. 'Those are blows which might have been caused to make some people bitter, but not Grace,' Ms. Christinck wrote. 'She looks back on her life full of love and gratitude. 'She has kept a joy for life and enjoyed good health, living on her own well past 100 until more recently when she moved first to a retirement home and then to the Manor,' her story continued. She was born on March 2, 1918, in Toronto as Grace Wiseman to a young Scottish couple – her father was from the Highlands and her mother from Glasgow. She recalled her parents came to Canada in search of opportunity and were encouraged to find work in the Toronto area. 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'We met a lot of nice people there through the years.' The dance hall was a large building, 40 by 80 feet, and was also used for wedding receptions. Bands came from all over to the dance hall, which would be crowded with dancers. The couple thrived with the fun and activity. Her husband was ideally suited to running the dance hall, she said. He had a presence about him and people responded well to him, she recalled. 'He did things in a quiet way,' she said. 'He was a good person to manage people.' All the while, she continued teaching and by the 1950s she was in Petawawa, where she would stay most of the week, returning home on weekends. During the dance season she would make sure to come home on Wednesday nights to help. Tragically, her husband died shortly after she retired from teaching in the 1970s. Grace stayed in the home and enjoyed her retirement. Active in the Association of Retired Teachers, she also spent time travelling, reconnecting with family in Scotland and New Zealand and always had a keen interest in people around her. At the time of the interview, she was using a walker and her hearing was not as good as it used to be, but she still enjoyed reading and her memory was particularly strong about her early years, particularly her childhood and early married life. For those who might be looking for a secret to making it to 105, she joked she washed her face with cold water. She added she never expected to live so long since both her parents died young. Having a good outlook on life is very important, she believed. 'My mother was an unusually knowing and fine person,' she said. 'I learned from her how she dealt with anything upsetting. She had a good sense of humour.' A funeral mass will be celebrated Friday in St. James Catholic Church, Eganville at 11 a.m. Visitation will take place from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
