Pupils and staff at Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh on the Isle of Skye are now proud recipients of the ‘We Make Music Schools Gold Award’ – an honour which recognises a well-established commitment to musical education and development.
For the We Make Music Award, schools are encouraged to think about music-making activity right across the school. BSGP has been awarded the highest level of award in the scheme which is run by the independent charity, The Music Education Partnership Group (MEPG).
Earlier in the month, MEPG manager Mae Murray and Neil Millar, from Education Scotland, travelled to Portree to present the school with the prize.
Only five schools in Scotland have been awarded the Gold Award and BSGP is the first one in Highland to achieve this recognition.
Head teacher Flora Guidi said: “This is a national award and we are delighted to receive this accolade. I would like to thank all our school staff, tutors, parents and pupils for the enormous amount of time and effort they have dedicated to this. A special thanks is due to Eilidh Beaton for collating all the work that we do and for submitting the entry.
“Our school values in BSGP are càirdeas, cànan, cultar agus coimhearsnachd (friendship, language, culture and community). Musical activities are integral to our promotion of these values.
“We believe music supports pupils’ health and wellbeing as we promote participation at all levels. Music also adds to our understanding of our own Gaelic culture and that of other cultures across the world.
“Through music we develop children’s oral language skills as well as their musical skills and we link with our communities through performances throughout the year.”
Chair of The Highland Council’s Education Committee, Cllr John Finlayson, said: “Congratulations to staff and pupils on receiving this accolade which recognises a strong commitment to music in education.
“Music is a vitally important part of our culture in Highland and it is encouraging to see it embedded so successfully within our schools.”
MEPG manager Mae Murray said: “Huge congratulations to Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh on receiving the We Make Music Schools Gold Award! Your hard work, talent, and dedication to the arts truly shines.
“It’s inspiring to see a school nurturing creativity and giving young people the opportunity to express themselves through music. A well-deserved recognition – well done to all the pupils and staff who made this possible!”
Norman Bolton, Head of Music Development at High Life Highland, said: “We are delighted that pupils and staff at Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Righ have achieved this award.
“We have an unwavering community interest in everything High Life Highland are able to offer in the school with demand regularly outstripping supply. Thankfully, the instructors and activities we offer are delivered by highly skilled musicians who bring an ideal combination of tradition and forward-thinking to their activities.
“Music should be embedded in the daily lives of all young people, and we fully support Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Righ’s efforts to ensure the pupils reap the well-researched benefits of music in all its forms”.
Neil Millar, Senior Education Officer for Curriculum, Learning, Teaching and Assessment at Education Scotland said: “I am delighted to be able join you all and to officially award Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh’s with their We Make Music Gold Award; the first school to be awarded Gold in all of Highland!
“The way music permeates the school ethos is clear to everyone associated with the school, and lies at the heart of the school’s values of càirdeas, cànan, cultar agus coimhearsnachd (friendship, language, culture and community). On behalf of Education Scotland I warmly congratulate the pupils, staff, parents and community of Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh in achieving this national and august award.”
Some of the regular musical opportunities that children have enjoyed at BSGP include:
- Angus MacKenzie from the band Daimh delivering regular sessions to all P3-P7 pupils in school time. Children all learn to play the tin whistle, the ukulele and other instruments. Angus also runs an after-school music club for BSGP pupils in P5-P7.
- Mrs Kirsteen Graham delivers singing sessions to all SA-P7 pupils.
- These lessons are funded by the school’s Parent Council and support is also provided by Urras an Eilein.
- All children from Sgoil Àraich -P7 learn Gaelic songs in class and sing together.
- The children sing and learn about songs at weekly P1-7 assemblies, while groups of pupils and individuals perform at these too.
- All P4-P7 pupils can apply for free lessons, delivered by High Life Highland Music Instructors, in pipe band drumming, piping, chanter and strings, including fiddle.
- Pupils are regular participants at events such as The Colonel Jock Memorial festival as well as the local and national Mòd.
- Older pupils perform at Taigh na Drochaid and at Home Farm Nursing Home in Portree.
- Older pupils sing with Cròileagan, Rionnagan and Sgoil Àraich pupils.
- The school also benefits from visits from musicians from Kodály musicianship sessions and visiting musicians from Fèisean nan Gàidheal thanks to the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative which is managed nationally by Creative Scotland and delivered across all Highland schools under the supervision of High Life Highland. All these activities are in addition to many other performances throughout the year.
More information at https://wemakemusicscotland.org/wmm-schools/
