GP Awards 2007

scottish learning association

Good Practice Awards 2007

The bi-annual Good Practice Awards judgement day was 28^th September 2007 in Bathgate and the competition proved more popular than ever with 97 entries this year. The SSLA executive narrowed these down to 15 and then sent them off to our judges, who nominated their top six. These six schools were invited to Bathgate to show us in detail what they had done and all the schools put on a terrific show involving pupils and staff alike. The judges had a very difficult job deciding the winner from such a different group of worthwhile activities but all six finalists came away with a monetary prize and all students were given a medal.

The judges were : Maria McCann from SEED

Professor Bart McGettrick

Professor Donald Christie

Tim Wright (former SSLA President)

The finalists were Wester Hailes Education Centre – S5 Maths Project

Dundonald P.S. – a group of P5 pupils developed wheelchair games so that one of their classmates could join in playground activities and feel one of them. They then contacted other organisations and now they promote their ideas in other schools

Hillside School, Fife – used IT to help students at risk from exclusion including making podcasts, working with programmable “babies” etc

Isobel Mair School – Inventive use of ICT to support their students who have Additional Support Needs

Chirnside P.S. – Terrific use of “buddies’ peer mediation and playground activity groups to support and include. Known as the “Peacemakers”.

Old Maachar Academy – Senior students with literacy difficulties developed and wrote stories and took them to local primary schools where they shared them with a very appreciative audience.

The winners were Wester Hailes who received £500 and the winners shield. Prizes of £300 and £200 were awarded to the second and third placed schools and the three other entries got £100 each so that no-one left empty handed which was only fair given the huge amount of effort each group put in.