JPA Social Subjects

Scottish teachers to go on strike across six council areas in workload dispute. news.stv.tv/scotland/scott…

Qualifications Scotland has become the new national body for qualifications and assessment. The new body will ensure that children, young people and adult learners are at the heart of decisions made, including on qualifications and assessment reform. 🔵bit.ly/3Z9PwlR

POLITICAL CONVERSATIONS @JohnSmithCentre @UofGlasgow . Press release. In a political climate which is too often beset by tribalism, polarisation and toxicity, ‘Political Conversations’ can be a beacon that lights the way forward. Following a pilot project at my former school Kilmarnock Academy in June 2025 I am delighted to confirm my sponsorship and committment to rolling out a new programme as co founder. “JSC by announcing a major expansion of its new schools programme, “Political Conversations”. In partnership with entrepreneur Dr Marie Macklin CBE, the centre will take S5 and S6 students from schools across the west of Scotland to the Scottish Parliament at the end of this month. The students, who study politics and modern studies, will be given a unique opportunity to take part in a “live” committee meeting. Up for debate will be the question of whether to ban mobile phones for under 16-year-olds. Schools taking part include Kilmarnock Academy, John Paul Academy in Glasgow, and four schools in West Dunbartonshire: Clydebank High School, Dumbarton Academy, Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School and St Peter the Apostle High School. The Centre is working with schools that are in areas of multiple deprivation as part of our mission to provide opportunities for all young people who wish to get involved and contribute to public service and public life. The Centre’s schools programme is being generously supported by Dr Macklin, a former pupil at Kilmarnock Academy, which saw the first event last summer when politicians Alex Neil and Jackson Carlaw spoke to students. @Jackson_Carlaw @AlexNeilSNP The programme will culminate this summer with a one-day conference for all participating young people at the University of Glasgow. Eddie Barnes, @EddieBarnes23 Director of the John Smith Centre, said: We are delighted to be expanding the Political Conversations initiative in 2026, which promises to be another pivotal year in Scottish politics, and our thanks go to Marie for her generous support and her enthusiasm for the project. The pilot event in Kilmarnock earlier this year and the subsequent schools events have underlined how much enthusiasm there is among younger people for getting involved in political debate, given the capacity it has to impact all our daily lives. With Marie’s backing, we hope to make 2026 a year in which Political Conversations firmly establishes itself as a fixture in Scotland’s political and educational calendar. Dr Marie Macklin CBE, co-founder of the initiative, said: I am delighted to be supporting the John Smith Centre in rolling out the next phase of the Political Conversations initiative in schools. As we look ahead in what is an election year in Scotland, it is more important than ever that younger people are enthused and engaged by the political process. The future of our democracy depends to a significant extent on ensuring that enough young people with the talent and aptitude to lead are encouraged to put themselves forward to take part in the political process”. ⬇️ johnsmithcentre.com/news/political…

Thank you @MarieMacklin for shouting out our schools programme on @bbcdebatenight earlier this week! 🙌📺 Want to find out more? Check out what Kilmarnock Academy students wrote about our pilot event in the summer 📝 johnsmithcentre.com/news/political… #PoliticalConversations @UofGSPS

Individuals in HMP Barlinnie are helping children and young people continue their education in the Ukraine. Find out how 👇 news.stv.tv/east-central/s…