Sweeping new powers for schools have been announced by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, John Swinney. In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Mr Swinney announced reforms to put schools in charge of key decisions about a child's education, including: Responsibility for raising attainment and closing the poverty-related gap in their school Choosing school staff and management structure Deciding curriculum content, within a broad national framework Directly controlling more school funding, with a consultation on fair funding launched today The new powers will be guaranteed in a statutory charter for headteachers, and young people and parents will also have a stronger voice in schools.
The Chair of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), Andrew Flanagan, has announced his intention to stand down from his role. Citing recent media and Parliamentary attention on his disagreement with a former board member and perceptions around SPA transparency, Mr Flanagan has concluded that debate on these issues risks distracting policing from important work underway on strategy and finance and that it is in the best interests of policing in Scotland that he stand down.
People living in the Highlands who are thinking of a career change to Primary teaching are being urged by The Highland Council to consider a distance learning course (DLITE) with the University of Aberdeen. Training for the Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Education DLITE (Distance Learning ITE) starts on 20 January 2018 and the deadline for applications is 21 August 2017.
The Highland Council is pleased to introduce the third, iteration draft Gaelic Language Plan 2017-2022 which is being submitted for a 6 week public consultation. The Highland Council draft Gaelic Language Plan has been prepared as a statutory document for submission to Bòrd na Gàidhlig in response to the formal notice of requirement to prepare a Gaelic Language Plan and with regard to the requirements set out in Section 3 of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005.
The purpose-built NKT Victoria cable-laying vessel has successfully laid the first HVDC cables in the Moray Firth as part of Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks' £1.1bn Caithness-Moray transmission project. The state-of-the-art vessel completed its first campaign from Noss Head in Caithness to the midpoint of the cable route this week.
SIX timber transport projects that benefit communities and the environment on rural roads in Highland are to receive £1.42 million of funding announced today. These projects will improve rural infrastructure and greatly reduce the impact of timber haulage on local communities.
Scottish barley growers have been urged to check their spraying programmes after trials by Scotland's Rural College confirmed signs of fungicide resistance in a key crop disease. Early this year crop protection company Bayer announced that in Germany and Denmark crops infected with the Ramularia collo-cygni fungus were not responding to normal fungicide treatments containing triazole and SDHI fungicides.
10% decrease in racial hate crime charges brought by police. People affected by hate crime have been encouraged to come forward to police to ensure perpetrators can be properly dealt with.
Following the end of the two recent election periods, congratulations to all our new and returning Highland Councillors, and to our new MP. This is a short message to update you on activities relating to the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership (CNSRP) during the two election periods.
Jamie Stone has been elected as the Member of Parliament for the Caithness Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency at the UK Parliamentary election on 8 June 2017. The election count was held overnight at the Highland Football Academy, Victoria Park in Dingwall.
Speaking following the results of the general election Cllr Margaret Davidson , Leader Highland Council said,"Congratulations to all our newly elected MPs, I am looking forward to working with them to make sure the Highlands has a stronger voice in Westminster. With two MP's having served as Highland councillors, we have MPs acutely aware of the challenges facing the Highland Council and the residents it represents.
The Highland Council has appointed Geo-Rope Ltd to undertake planned maintenance works to the rock face above the A890 Stromeferry Bypass. Works are programmed to begin on the 10th of July for approximately 8 weeks.
Increased Carer's Allowance to be delivered next summer. The first social security payments to be delivered by the Scottish Government have been outlined to parliament by Social Security Secretary Angela Constance.
Keith Brown has announced the opening of the M8, M73 and M74 as part of the £500m M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project. The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair work said all daytime lane restrictions on the M8, M73 and M74 will be removed progressively, freeing up capacity on the key part of Central Scotland's motorway network.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney has set out his vision of empowerment and devolution for Scottish education. At the School Leaders Scotland summer conference, the DFM reiterated his pledge to make teachers and parents the key decision makers in schools.
During the time I've spent going door-to-door and chatting to the people of Caithness, it has become clear to me that health services in the North is the biggest concern. Unsurprisingly, the greatest focus has been on the recent downgrade in maternity care at Caithness General Hospital (CGH).
Dr Paul Monaghan was elected as the Member of Parliament for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross in May 2015 and was quickly recognised as one of the hardest working MPs. Paul was the first Member of Parliament for the far north ever to open an office in the constituency, and over the last two years has assisted over 3,400 constituents, and held over 160 surgeries, public meetings and home visits in every corner of the constituency.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (June, 7th) sold 423 sheep of all classes. Lambs (102) sold to £77 gross for Cheviots from Allt Nan Subh, Dornie.
Scottish farmers denied the full £190 million. Scottish hill farmers on average are being denied around £14,000 over a six year period under the CAP convergence uplift Rural Secretary Fergus Ewing has said.
Staffing levels continue to increase. Figures published today show that Scotland's NHS has more staff than ever before, up by over 12,300 WTE under this government.