Education training experts back suicide prevention in school
The successful campaign has led to a change in the Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum in England.
Dr Richard Anderson, head of learning and development at High Speed Training, said: "This new curriculum will empower young people to have open and honest conversations about mental health.
"It is vital to support schools, teachers, and parents in this crucial endeavour."
The added curriculum will be introduced in September this year, becoming mandatory by September 2026.
Dr Anderson added: "By raising awareness and encouraging open, honest discussion, we can break down the stigma, reduce risk, and ultimately, save lives."
The announcement coincides with Samaritans' 24/7 Day, which highlights the charity's consistent support service for those struggling.
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Scotsman
a day ago
- Scotsman
Revealed: The best and worst places in Scotland for food hygiene pass rates
The local authorities across Scotland with the highest pass ratings for their food hygiene inspections have been revealed, thanks to a report from online training provider High Speed Training, marking 15 years since the introduction of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Ranked 1st in Scotland, South Ayrshire has the highest pass rate of 99.00%, although this was a decrease of -0.81% from 2024. has the highest pass rate of 99.00%, although this was a decrease of -0.81% from 2024. Highland , ranked 32nd, has the lowest pass rate in the country at 77.88%, which was a slight improvement of +0.04% from the previous year. , ranked 32nd, has the lowest pass rate in the country at 77.88%, which was a slight improvement of +0.04% from the previous year. North Lanarkshire , which is now ranked 7th, had the biggest improvement in ranking, moving up 10 positions from its 2024 rank of 17th. , which is now ranked 7th, had the biggest improvement in ranking, moving up 10 positions from its 2024 rank of 17th. The biggest drop in ranking was experienced by Angus , which fell 12 places from 12th in 2024 to 24th. , which fell 12 places from 12th in 2024 to 24th. The most significant improvement in pass rate was seen in the Shetland Islands , which improved by +3.60% to achieve a pass rate of 78.31%. , which improved by +3.60% to achieve a pass rate of 78.31%. Angus also saw the biggest decrease in its pass rate, which fell by -3.94% to 91.30%. also saw the biggest decrease in its pass rate, which fell by -3.94% to 91.30%. Glasgow is ranked 27th with a pass rate of 88.47%, a decrease of -0.82% from 2024. is ranked 27th with a pass rate of 88.47%, a decrease of -0.82% from 2024. Edinburgh is ranked 26th with a pass rate of 89.68%, representing a decrease of -0.63% from the previous year. is ranked 26th with a pass rate of 89.68%, representing a decrease of -0.63% from the previous year. View the report with interactive map Infographics download The report, which analysed Food Standards Agency (FSA) data for over 240,000 food businesses across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, found that in Scotland, the average pass rating across all food establishments in 2025 was 92.2%. A similar report run in 2024 by High Speed Training calculated Scotland's average pass rating at 92.5%, showing that food hygiene standards have dipped very slightly across the country. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Food hygiene ratings across the region have been revealed The top spot in Scotland went to South Ayrshire, with an impressive pass rate of 99.00% from over 500 premises. South Ayrshire has consistently held the top spot in previous reports. The most significant improvement in pass rate was seen in the Shetland Islands, which improved by 3.60% from 2024. In terms of rankings, North Lanarkshire was the biggest climber, moving up 10 positions to 7th place. The biggest drop was experienced by Angus, which fell 12 places in the rankings. It also saw the biggest decrease in its pass rate, which fell by 3.94% from 2024. The report showed that the lowest pass rate in Scotland went to Highland, with a pass rate of 77.88%, though this was a slight improvement on its 2024 score. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Food hygiene ratings across the region have been revealed Edinburgh just edged the battle of the major cities, with a pass rate of 89.68% to Glasgow's 88.47%, placing them in 26th and 27th spot respectively. Both cities saw a small decrease in their pass rates from 2024. Of the local authorities with over 1000 premises, Fife performed the strongest, with a pass rate of 96.79%, placing them 5th in the rankings. On average, local authorities across the country saw their pass rate fall by 0.28%, and 10 out of 32 local authorities secured a pass rate of 95% or higher. The Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS), evaluates businesses on their food hygiene practices. After an EHO has reviewed the safety systems, observed food hygiene in practice and spoken with the staff, the businesses are given either: Pass - The business meets the legal standard of food hygiene, or: Improvement Required - The legal standard of food hygiene was not evident during the inspection. The business will need to improve certain areas to then qualify for a pass. As in England, it is not required by law for a business to display the rating they receive. However, the FHIS is available for customers to view online. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Food hygiene ratings across the region have been revealed Dr Richard Anderson, Head of Learning and Development at High Speed Training comments: 'Food safety and robust hygiene practices should be of paramount importance to food businesses, and to the customers who use them. 15 years have passed since the launch of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, and its place in the industry is as vital as ever. These ratings are a direct reflection of how safely and hygienically that establishment operates, and we urge businesses and customers to take them seriously. 'For businesses that perform well, a high rating is a real selling point. However, establishments with a low hygiene rating can be extremely off-putting for customers, which ultimately have a significant impact on reputation and profitability.' 'Our report shows that, on average, standards remain high across the UK, and have improved from 2024. This commitment to correct food hygiene training for staff, alongside robust food management procedures and everyday good practices are crucial to keep performing at high standards. 'We would also urge customers to check the food hygiene ratings of establishments they wish to dine at, so that an informed call as to whether you eat there can be made.' To view the report in full, and to see how your area compares to others, please visit
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Scotland's 'worst places for food hygiene' named as northern region ranks last
All 32 Scottish council areas were ranked. Scotland's worst areas for food hygiene have been named. A northern area of the country placed last on the list. On Wednesday, July 30, food hygiene course provider High Speed Training shared a report detailing the best and worst places in Scotland for food hygiene pass rates. The report analysed pass ratings for food hygiene inspections at food businesses across the country. Coming in last place for Scotland is the Highland local authority. Ranking 32nd on High Speed Training's list, the area has the lowest pass rate in the country with 77.88 per cent. While the Highlands came in at the bottom for Scotland, its percentage pass rate was a slight improvement from the previous year. According to the experts, the pass rate in the council area increased by 0.04 per cent from 2024. The second worst area in Scotland for food hygiene was found to be the Shetland Islands with a pass rate of 78.31 per cent. Rounding out the bottom five are Aberdeen City, South Lanarkshire, and Aberdeenshire. Despite placing so lowly, Shetland saw the most significant improvement in pass rate. The UK's most northerly archipelago saw its food hygiene pass rate improve by 3.60 per cent from 2024. Meanwhile, the biggest drop in ranking was seen in Angus. The council area fell 12 places, from 12th in 2024 to 24th in 2025, with a pass rate of 91.30 per cent. On the other hand, South Ayrshire tops the list as the area in Scotland with the highest food hygiene pass rates. According to High Speed Training, South Ayrshire has consistently held the top spot in previous reports. The food hygiene pass rate in South Ayrshire was found to be 99 per cent. This is a decrease of 0.81 per cent from 2024. The area of Scotland with the second highest food hygiene pass rate according to High Speed Training is Falkirk, with 98.36 per cent. West Lothian follows in third, while Renfrewshire and Fife, respectively, complete the top five. The report analysed Food Standards Agency data for over 240,000 food businesses across Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. The experts found that the average pass rating across all food establishments in Scotland in 2025 was 92.2 per cent. Head of Learning and Development at High Speed Training Dr Richard Anderson commented: "Food safety and robust hygiene practices should be of paramount importance to food businesses, and to the customers who use them. "Fifteen years have passed since the launch of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, and its place in the industry is as vital as ever. "These ratings are a direct reflection of how safely and hygienically that establishment operates, and we urge businesses and customers to take them seriously. For businesses that perform well, a high rating is a real selling point. "However, establishments with a low hygiene rating can be extremely off-putting for customers, which ultimately have a significant impact on reputation and profitability." Anderson added: "Our report shows that, on average, standards remain high across the UK, and have improved from 2024. This commitment to correct food hygiene training for staff, alongside robust food management procedures and everyday good practices are crucial to keep performing at high standards. "We would also urge customers to check the food hygiene ratings of establishments they wish to dine at, so that an informed call as to whether you eat there can be made." See below for the full list of the best and worst areas in Scotland for food hygiene pass rates. The full study can be found on the High Speed Training website. Food hygiene pass rates in every South Ayrshire: 99.00% Falkirk: 98.36% West Lothian: 98.19% Renfrewshire: 97.61% Fife: 96.79% Orkney Islands: 96.25% North Lanarkshire: 95.64% Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles): 95.53% East Ayrshire: 95.50% East Renfrewshire: 95.00% Moray: 94.77% East Lothian: 94.75% West Dunbartonshire: 94.72% East Dunbartonshire: 94.35% Argyll and Bute: 93.48% Perth and Kinross: 93.35% North Ayrshire: 93.23% Inverclyde: 93.15% Clackmannanshire: 92.73% Stirling: 92.70% Dumfries and Galloway: 92.49% Scottish Borders: 92.05% Dundee City: 91.67% Angus: 91.30% Midlothian: 90.44% Edinburgh (City of): 89.68% Glasgow City: 88.47% Aberdeenshire: 86.06% South Lanarkshire: 85.40% Aberdeen City: 82.14% Shetland Islands: 78.31% Highland: 77.88%
Time Out
a day ago
- Time Out
London is officially the worst region in the UK for food hygiene, according to recent statistics
A long brown hair in your spaghetti, a plate of pink, undercooked chicken, a smear of old encrusted sauce on the table – the thought of low hygiene standards at a restaurant is enough to make a person retch. And in some unfortunate news for the foodies of London, its been revealed that eateries in the capital have the worst food hygiene ratings in the whole UK. High Speed Training (HST) is one of the UK's biggest providers of food hygiene courses, so it knows its stuff. Every year it crunches Food Standards Agency (FSA) data for more than 240,000 food business (restaurants, canteens, takeaways, bars, pubs, hotels, etc.) across the UK to rank each region based on their level of food hygiene. Before you spit out your food, London's food hygiene score isn't actually that bad. Although it does sit at the bottom of the pack, its average food hygiene score is 4.38 out of five, which means that the hygiene at most of our eateries sits between 'good' and 'very good'. The rating takes into account the handling of food, how food is stored, how it's prepared, the cleanliness of the facilities and how food safety is managed. When we break it down by borough, Kensington and Chelsea is the most hygienic place in the city with an average rating of 4.79. London's lowest rating went to Waltham Forest, with an average of 3.89 out of five. To Waltham's credit, that is an ever-so-slight improvement on last year's score of 3.74. Of the city's 36,383 premises, 149 were slapped with a big fat zero from the FSA this year, indicating 'urgent improvement needed' and 774 scored one, meaning that there is 'major improvement needed'. Yuck. Rest assured that you are largely in safe hands when you eat out in the capital, though. HST's report found that 83.1 percent of London's premises have a food hygiene rating of four or five. Dr Richard Anderson, the head of learning and development at High Speed Training, said: 'Our report shows that, on average, standards remain high across the UK, and have improved from 2024. This commitment to correct food hygiene training for staff, alongside robust food management procedures and everyday good practices are crucial to keep performing at high standards. 'We would also urge customers to check the food hygiene ratings of establishments they wish to dine at, so that an informed call as to whether you eat there can be made.'
