Sills building opened at Sgoil Lionacleit 1/9/10
A new purpose built facility has been built at Sgoil Lionacleit which will result
in more work based courses offered to young people in Uist and Benbecula.
The new
building will allow a wider choice of vocational courses to be taught, including
skills such as Crofting and Traditional Boat Building which are directly relevant
to the local economy.
The premises were by opened by Education Secretary Michael Russell who said: "Curriculum
for Excellence, which is now in practice in all secondary schools, is designed to
give young people the skills they need for a positive future. Job based courses clearly
have a valuable role to play in making sure the next generation of Scottish employees
have the knowledge and skills to find jobs.
"That's why I am particularly pleased
to open this new building at Sgoil Lionacleit which will see an improved range of
job related courses offered to young people in Uist and Benbecula.
"This is giving
young people skills and qualifications in areas that are directly related to the
local economy, such as construction skills, crofting and traditional boat building.
"I believe this can help make sure island businesses have the workforce they need
and young people don't have to leave in search of training and employment -
Mr Miller Macdonald (Acting
head Teacher) said: "The pupils and staff of Sgoil Lionacleit were delighted that
Mr Russell could attend the official opening of the Applied Learning Facility and
see some of the exciting projects that the pupils have been working on. Having a
workshop for Construction Skills and other vocational courses in the school means
that pupils can walk from one lesson in one department to the workshop and have their
overalls on and ready to start within a few minutes.
"I wish to thank Education and
the Technical Services Departments of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, as well as the building
contractors J.J. Macdonald for funding, designing and building this wonderful resource.
I also wish to thank Mr Collier, former Principal Teacher of Technical subjects at
Sgoil Lionacleit, for establishing the construction Skills course and for helping
to fit out the new workshop.
"The basic curriculum in Sgoil Lionacleit is a good one,
but we must ensure that we equip pupils with the skills that they will need when
they leave school. The adjustments we are making to our curriculum and the new projects
we've introduced will help pupils going on to university, college or employment."