Dunoon Grammar will take to the global stage once again when staff and pupils deliver a virtual seminar at this year’s World Education Week.
After becoming the first Scottish school to deliver a session at the prestigious worldwide education showpiece last year, the school has again been invited to present an hour-long workshop to showcase their innovative approaches to community learning during the Covid pandemic.
Greg Wise, actor, producer and current star of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, will join the workshop to discuss how young people at the school have been contributing to the ‘Dunoon Project’ - a local community regeneration initiative.
The theme of World Education Week 2021, which takes place online from Sunday 3 October to Friday 8 October, will be ‘School Celebration’.
It will comprise 100 events, each aligned to one of ten sub-themes. These are: community partnership and collaboration; innovation; overcoming adversity and building resilience; supporting healthy lives; environmental sustainability; creative approaches to problem-solving; global citizenship; developing others; inclusion; and student leadership.
Schools selected to participate will share their experiences and expertise so that teachers, schools and education systems around the world can emulate these.
Dunoon Grammar School will host their celebration on Tuesday 5 October at 6pm local time (5 pm GMT). The event is free and anyone wishing to attend can register via http://worldeduweek.org/event/dunoon-grammar-school
Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Education, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, said: “Taking part in World Education Week is a huge privilege. Dunoon Grammar will not only be representing Argyll and Bute on a global scale, but the whole of Scotland, and I’m tremendously proud of all the staff and pupils who are involved. I for one can’t wait to see what they have in store.”
The event, described as the world’s largest education conference, was founded by Vikas Pota, Founder of T4 Education, an educational leader and entrepreneur, as a way of supporting teachers and schools by providing them with opportunities to learn from and share experiences with one another.
Mr Pota said: “We are delighted that Dunoon Grammar School is again delivering a workshop at World Education Week. Their session last year was innovative, informative and inspiring. The young people involved were a credit to Scotland and I am excited to see what they have in store for us on the 5 October. I would encourage you to register for what promises to be an unmissable session.”
The Scottish Government’s Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Like many Scottish schools, Dunoon Grammar has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of the many challenges presented by the COVID pandemic. I am pleased that the pupils’ message that will be delivered to a global audience online during World Education Week is one of hope and renewal. It is heartening that they see a brighter future. I am certain Dunoon Grammar School pupils will do Scotland proud and I send them my very best wishes.”
Head Teacher at Dunoon Grammar, David Mitchell, added: “We are delighted to have been again chosen to take part in World Education Week. It is a huge honour for us to represent not just Argyll and Bute, but the whole of Scotland, and we have been working hard to prepare for it. Our virtual seminar will be based on a ‘Back to the Future’ theme, and will be an innovative and engaging performance led by our pupils, and involving staff and partners. The seminar will showcase the diverse range of creative and immersive learning experiences our young people have led to help our community recover post pandemic and will be a true Scottish affair, with pipes, drums and Gaelic performances. Our young peoples’ involvement will exemplify the impact creative community learning has had on their skills and confidence."