Latest news with #PrestonLodge
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Readers' Letters: Bridge the attainment gap with pipe bands in schools
A reader supports calls for the formation of pipe bands in schools to boost academic performance 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... Professor Roderick Paisley (Scotsman, 5 August) is correct in noting the remarkable benefits offered to schools and their communities by forming pipe bands – and, of course, by sourcing serious cash for their continuing development. There are big lessons to be learned from the successes of Preston Lodge High School in East Lothian over the last decade or so, whether in terms of musical or academic performance. What has been achieved through imaginative public/private partnership deserves to be known across Scotland and beyond, as Preston Lodge proves itself to be a school well worthy of the accolade 'comprehensive' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Through the building up of discipline, ability, community and huge good fun the young people of Preston Lodge's bands have proved themselves willing learners to their teachers, giving so much to their fine school while enhancing so very clearly their own life prospects. Research found teenagers at Preston Lodge High who learned a traditional Scottish instrument outperformed their classmates in exams (Pictures: Jeff) If the SNP government is remotely serious about closing Scotland's dismal attainment gap in the short to medium term, it should pack its education boffins onto the Waverley to Prestonpans train and take a ride. This would prove to be a short journey of considerable discovery. Rev Dr Robin Hill, Longniddry, East Lothian Learn lesson On 1 August, five days before the 80th anniversary of America dropping the first nuclear bomb on Hiroshima (marked yesterday), in response to an ill-advised tweet by Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chair of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, President Trump ordered two ballistic nuclear submarines closer to Russia. A few days earlier the commander of the US Army in Europe, General Christopher Donoghue, boasted that he could 'take down' the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad in a shock and awe operation. Then Lindsey Graham, the Republican senator for South Carolina urged Trump to 'kick Putin's ass'. Not to be outdone Zelensky said 'if we don't stand firm Putin will advance further than Ukraine'. The hotline between Moscow and Washington is no longer in use, the Doomsday Clock is 89 seconds to midnight, and the Hiroshima bomb which killed hundreds of thousands is a pin-prick compared with the monstrous nuclear arsenals of Russia and America. We are in danger of sleepwalking into Armageddon. William Loneskie, Lauder, Scottish Borders Holocaust denial Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The egregious situation unfolding in Gaza is endangering global knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust. As a long-time, proactive supporter of the rights of Palestinians to self-determination and as grandmother to two Jewish boys, I fear that Holocaust denial is likely to gather hideous momentum due to the actions of the Israeli government. The asymmetric barrage of death inflicted on Gaza – alongside our present climate of 'fake news' and binary stances invoked by social media – is on course to re-shape our understanding of history in all its diabolic manifestations. Susie Macleod, Ceres, Fife Flawed tax Replacements for the much-derided council tax seem to have been touted forever. A spokesman from the Jimmy Reid Foundation, put it well: 'We've had consultations, commissions and countless commitments, but little has changed.' (Scotsman, 6 August) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And meanwhile, cash-strapped councils continue to struggle to provide much needed services, not least libraries and education. Taxation based on outdated property bands is clumsy and unfair. The trouble is that no system seems foolproof. My own view is that a tax system based on land valuation is the least flawed option. Land is something we all share, however infinitesimally and releases our taxes from a base in either property or income. We can only hope that after decades of consultations, commissions and countless commitments, everything will have changed, for the better. Ian Petrie, Edinburgh Forbes' exit The valedictory praise heaped on Kate Forbes could not have been greater had politicians and journalists been writing obituaries. Certainly, Ms Forbes is a good communicator and made encouraging noises about Scotland needing to nurture private business, which generates the wealth that the financially incontinent SNP regime spends at will. However, two queries need to be addressed. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad First, what did Ms Forbes actually achieve in government, beyond making soothing comments about intent? There is nothing visible to the naked eye. Second, her words that are sensible in comparison with pretty much anything any other SNP politician says were vitiated by her clear attachment to the falsehoods that underpin what passes for SNP policy. As an example, when, a couple of years ago, Ian Blackford revived the SNP lie that HM Treasury would continue to fund pensions in an independent Scotland, Ms Forbes said that she would not presume to disagree with him. Further, she may or may not have agreed with the SNP leadership's espousal of scientifically illiterate 'gender' theory, but we shall probably never know. She managed to absent herself from public discussion of that. Perhaps that is evidence of her political astuteness, but ordinary voters can scarcely find it a credible stance for an allegedly principled politician. Jill Stephenson, Edinburgh New deputy With Kate Forbes out of the picture, John Swinney will need to have someone else for the position of deputy leader ahead of the upcoming Holyrood election. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This person needs to have a solid track record of success. Enter Jenny Gilruth, the Education Secretary? She has decreased the attainment gap between rich and poor pupils, Nicola Sturgeon's dream. In true SNP style, this was only by a rather meagre 0.1 per cent but in SNP circles this qualifies as a huge success. Don't forget all talk of Kate Forbes being leadership material was originally only based upon her short-notice speech when she replaced Derek McKay after his enforced resignation. This sums the SNP up in one word: lightweight. Gerald Edwards, Glasgow Darien II Council chiefs in Edinburgh and Glasgow have no chance of meeting net zero targets by 2030 (Scotsman, 6 August), just as the SNP at Holyrood will fail to meet the 2045 goals. It appears not a single MSP is aware that the cost to decarbonise Scottish homes increased from the Green Party estimate of £31 billion to £130bn once Humza Yousaf dispensed with the services of Patrick Harvie as a minister. That debt is about a cost of over £50,000 for every Scottish household! Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In addition, the total cost of meeting Scottish net zero goals will be around £1 trillion, which indicates Holyrood plans to inflict a Darien Scheme Mk2 on every Scottish taxpayer. Ian Moir, Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway Bin day blunder On Sunday night, the UK was under an amber alert due to Storm Floris, with authorities urging the public to avoid unnecessary travel as train services were expected to be disrupted. Yet, come Monday morning – bin collection day – households were faced with a dilemma. With strong winds forecast for the afternoon, many were unsure whether to put their bins out or risk them becoming airborne hazard. Paper waste, collected only once a month, meant most households didn't want to miss the opportunity. Unfortunately, as predicted, the stormy winds arrived and paper bins began tipping over, sending cardboard and paper flying across streets and gardens. While such incidents aren't frequent, they're not unheard of either – especially in a country with decades-old waste collection practices and unpredictable weather. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What's truly surprising is the lack of any clear guidance or contingency plans from the responsible authorities. In an age where weather alerts are timely and accurate, surely it's time for our waste collection services to adapt and communicate better with the public during adverse conditions. Imran M Khan, Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire Sign here In the 2024 general election, I stood as an independent candidate in the new constituency of Dunfermline and Dollar. I secured 323 votes. In good faith, I campaigned for a better Britain. In the event, Labour was gifted a parliamentary majority of 165, a totally demoralised and fragmented opposition, a lame and tame Speaker and considerable public goodwill. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Despite such favourable political circumstances, Labour has squandered a unique opportunity. They promised so much, but have delivered little. Britain is considerably worse off at every level. Labour now stands accused of a massive electoral fraud. They must be brought to book. I owe it to 323 voters in Fife therefor to fully support the Parliamentary Petition to demand a general election now. Inevitably Starmer will remind his MP's that there are good reasons for them to protect him. He will lean on the gullible Speaker and he will brush off any petition of modest numbers. However if the petition reaches one million signatures, even Starmer, with little or no integrity, will have to acknowledge the inevitable. I urge every Scot to sign the petition, without hesitation. Graham Hadley, Dunfermline, Fife Write to The Scotsman
Scotsman
6 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
Exam results Scotland: East Lothian school Preston Lodge High using pipes and drums to close attainment gap
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... An East Lothian school may have found a novel new way of closing the education attainment gap - learning the pipes and drums. A study of pupils from Preston Lodge High tracked young people who play in the school's piping programme for ten years. The research found teenagers who learned a traditional Scottish instrument outperformed their classmates in exams. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Preston Lodge High pipe band in action. | Preston Lodge High Pupil players were more likely to earn Highers and Advanced Highers and go on to university than their non-musical peers. The effect was not only prevalent for young people from middle-class homes, but included those from more disadvantaged backgrounds. The piping scheme at the Prestonpans secondary is supported by the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT). 'One of the most encouraging things to come out of this study is the fact that even youngsters from the most disadvantaged backgrounds are flying high too,' SSPDT chief executive Lindsay MacKenzie said. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It is proving beyond doubt that pipe bands at school can really help bridge the attainment gap at a time when national statistics show the gap to be widening.' Preston Lodge High has had a turbulent few years with the challenges of dealing with significant disruption due to building problems. The school was found to have been built with the lightweight concrete, reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) - a material that can easily crack and crumble. Education Scotland assesses schools on four quality indicators. The school's most recent inspection report, from January, showed Preston Lodge received two 'weak' ratings from watchdogs and two 'satisfactory'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Yet the young people in the school band have far exceeded the national average in exam attainment. All 78 pipe band members between 2014 and last year were tracked from final exams through to higher education and employment and all of them have had better outcomes than their peers. A pupil from the Preston Lodge High piping programme performs. | Preston Lodge High Some 52 per cent of pipe band members attained five or more Highers, compared to 39 per cent nationally and 27 per cent overall at Preston Lodge. A total of 41 per cent left school with one or more Advanced Highers, compared with the national average of 18.7 per cent. For pupils from the two most deprived social groups, the impact was significant. Research shows 45 per cent achieved three or more Highers, compared to 38.2 per cent nationally and 40 per cent attained one or more Advanced Highers, compared to just 10.5 per cent nationally. Head teacher Gavin Clark said the impact of the school's three pipe bands was 'impossible' to over-estimate. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad '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,' Mr Clark said. '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.' Roderick Paisley, a piper himself and Professor of Scots Law at the University of Aberdeen, said the effect could be explained by the maturity and hard work necessary to learn the instruments. He said: 'Pipers and drummers are often more mature, dedicated and hard-working than their peers and they gain personal confidence enabling them to take on difficult tasks and to deal with other people of all ages. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The best thing about participation in a pipe band is that all this is learned in an enjoyable way and it sets up pipers and drummers for life.' Preston Lodge was among the first schools in Scotland to benefit from the SSPDT pipe band programme. The high school now has two full-time and one part-time pipe band tutoring staff and runs development, novice juvenile and juvenile pipe bands, with pupils competing in major national and international competitions.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- 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.'
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Pipe bands linked to better exam results for pupils
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: 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.'
