Latest news with #InvernessRoyalAcademy
Scotsman
04-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Tesco shows support to local Inverness school
As part of their 'Stronger Starts' programme, Tesco has donated £1,000 to the Inverness Royal Academy to create a clothing bank, after concerned teachers approached the company with their concerns for pupils. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, 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... Dedicated teachers noticed many of the students were arriving at school in the morning with inadequate clothing on certain occasions, such as during snowstorms or non-uniform days. They urged the parent council to apply for funding from Tesco and were delighted to be awarded with the grant. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The creation of the clothing bank now gives pupils discreet access to school uniform items, sports kits, appropriate outdoor clothing and accessories, casual clothing for dress down days and formal wear for special occasions such as Christmas dances. Trevor from the Tesco Inverness Superstore is a former pupil at the school. Lauren O'Connor, a teacher at the school said: 'During the aftermath of the pandemic, pupils were required to take their break times outside and classroom windows were to remain open during the winter months to ensure ventilation. I began to really notice how many pupils didn't have appropriate clothing. 'We now have a stock of pre-loved uniform items and warm jackets thanks to the funding from Tesco, and we will be able to support more families comfortably.' In addition to the clothing bank, teachers are now able to provide pupils with access to a 'grab and go' breakfast item before morning registration class, plus snack boxes within classrooms, which pupils are encouraged to take from when they don't have lunch with them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Julie Douglas, a member of the Inverness Royal Academy parent council, said: 'The funding we received from Tesco has allowed us to better support pupils and their families, who are incredibly grateful for the helping hand. Tesco has donated £1,000 to the Inverness Royal Academy to create a clothing bank. 'We aim to ensure that every pupil has a good school day and knows that if they are in need of anything, we are there to support them. 'On behalf of the whole school, we'd like to thank all of the team at Tesco for helping us create such a vital project.' Claire DeSilva, Head of Community for Tesco, said: 'At Tesco we believe it's incredibly important to support local schools, community groups and charities throughout Scotland, including in and around Inverness and the Highlands. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We hope this funding will help to make a difference to the pupils of Inverness Royal Academy and their families and reduce the stress that can be caused by the school routine combined with the current cost of living crisis.'
Press and Journal
16-05-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
Mobile phone ban in Highland schools moves step closer as former teacher warns of 'catastrophic' effects on pupils
Highland Council will soon be asking for views on mobile phone-use in schools after an ex-teacher spoke of the 'catastrophic' effects they have in classrooms. Joint proposals tabled by Michael Gregson, who is now an Inverness councillor, to hold a consultation with the 'whole school community' on the use of devices have been unanimously approved. Included in the plan is the council's commitment to supporting Highland schools that decide to ban pupils from using the devices in classrooms. The proposals have not called for an outright ban, but the authors have made their voices clear that schools would be better without the 'constant distraction' of phones. Inverness councillor Mr Gregson, who previously taught at Inverness Royal Academy, highlighted the current effects of phone-use in classrooms to councillors. The former English teacher said 'we are in an age of fragmented attention span' and the 'highly addictive nature of smartphones is having a lasting effect on children's brains.' Mr Gregson described the current situation as 'catastrophic' and called for Highland Council to 'address the power of mobile phones.' He proposed the local authority consult the 'whole school community' and develop a policy for phones in schools which teachers could adopt or adapt. He referenced a recent workshop by Bernadette Cairns, the principal educational psychologist at the council, who found there to be 'dysregulation and disengagement' in Highland classrooms. Mr Gregson also referenced the current 'abusive use of mobile phones' in Scottish schools. It comes after a Moray teacher spoke out about being filmed in school and shared online by pupils without her consent. Aird and Loch Ness councillor Helen Crawford co-signed the proposals and said this was also an issue in Highland schools. She called unwarranted photos or videos of teachers in the classroom 'entirely inappropriate and disrespectful'. Councillor Crawford added the footage is used to 'bully or embarrass' teachers and hopes a ban on phones 'will ensure that comes to an end.' The newly agreed proposal will see the council seek 'meaningful conversations' with school managers, parents, teachers and pupils for their views on phone-use in schools. Both councillors stressed this does not necessarily mean an outright ban, but hopes a consultation will be a step towards getting 'these phones out of our schools.' Nairn Academy and Grantown Grammar School have both already implemented their own individual bans on phones. In the Highlands every child is given a Chromebook laptop, and both Mr Gregson and Mrs Crawford say this removes the 'need for phones as educational tools.' The cross-party proposal faced no opposition in the chamber and officers will begin work on preparing the consultation. Both Labour councillor Michael Gregson and Conservative councillor Helen Crawford said they were 'delighted.' Speaking after the result, Mrs Crawford said: 'I'm delighted that schools across Highland now have the full backing of Highland Council when they implement a ban on the use of mobile phones during the school day. 'At the end of the day, we want all our kids to thrive and having the constant distraction of a mobile phone clearly does not help.' She added: 'Let's get these phones out of our schools and let's free up our kids to concentrate and learn.'
