Highland schools are showing their passion for sport and physical activity, with over 60 of them now proud recipients of sportscotland School Sport Awards.
In just a year, Highland has more than doubled the number of schools that have successfully achieved bronze, silver or gold status going from 30 schools in July 2024 to 66 now!
Cllr John Finlayson, Chair of The Highland Council’s Education Committee said: “This success is all credit to the teaching staff, the pupils and the many High Life Highland Active Schools Coordinators that are working right across the region. Almost 40% of our schools now have a sportscotland School Sport Award – a jump from 14% last year – it’s just fantastic and we know there is more to come!”
Within Highland, 13 schools have the highest accolade – gold – with a further 11 gold awards pending. This includes recent gold recipients Reay and Halkirk Primary Schools in Caithness and Dingwall Primary School in Ross-shire.
Millburn Academy in Inverness is also a very recent recipient of the top award, recognising the school’s achievements in putting sport at the heart of their planning, practice and ethos.
Matthew Allan, Millburn Active Schools Coordinator with High Life Highland said: “A special recognition must go to our amazing Young Ambassadors for sport at Millburn, Eva Still and Ali Tuckwood, for their invaluable contributions and continued support throughout the year. They have delivered inspiring presentations at whole-year assemblies, been active in promoting sport and leadership and instrumental in the delivery of key initiatives such as Active Girls Days and Inter House events. They have truly led by example. In addition, they’ve worked closely with the sports prefect team to expand lunchtime activities – enhancing access and engagement for all pupils.”
As well as the many gold achievements, there are also 28 schools with silver awards and 14 with bronze.
Darren Reid, Head of Sport Development at High Life Highland commented: “Every school that has gone through sportscotland’s School Sport Award process shows a commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of their school community. Our Active Schools team have been delighted to support schools through the process, but huge credit sits with the school staff and pupils who have achieved this success.
“The number of schools in Highland that have achieved gold status or are progressing towards this demonstrates how well we do in Highland to put sport and physical activity at the heart of pupil’s wellbeing. With more and more schools gaining School Sport Awards it is very encouraging to see the process being valued and we look forward to supporting more schools through the process in the new academic year.” 
Many of the Highland’s most rural schools are doing a great job of achieving sportscotland School Sport Awards with geography being no barrier to striking gold – such as Raasay Primary School with just four pupils. Ardnamurchan High School, with just over 120 pupils, at Strontian in Lochaber services the rural communities of Ardnamurchan, Morven, Ardgour, Sunart and Moidart and just last week had their gold status confirmed.
Laura Hannah, Head Teacher of Ardnamurchan High School, said: “It is a true honour to lead a small remote school that embodies enthusiasm and dedication for sports. We are fortunate to have devoted staff who generously dedicate their time to ensure our students have access to the same opportunities as those in urban schools.
“I am thrilled that our school has been awarded the gold sportscotland School Sport Award. This recognition highlights the importance of collaborating with a dedicated Active Schools Coordinator and acknowledges the efforts of our students.”
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said: “The importance of sport in school life cannot be underestimated and being awarded a sportscotland gold School Sport Award is testament to the hard work and effort of pupils, teachers, and volunteers across a school. The number of schools now engaged in the award is a true reflection of the value that sport has in school life, and it is fantastic to see this number grow and grow each year.
“As the national agency, working with our partners in local authorities and governing bodies of sport, we are continuing to strengthen the links between school sport, club sport and physical education, which not only benefits young people by providing more opportunities but also helps schools continuously improve and celebrate the successful school sport models.”
Images show Millburn Academy, Halkirk Primary and Raasay Primary School
