Tha mi a’ cur fàilte bhlàth air ar clann a tha a’ tòiseachadh no a’ tilleadh don sgoil agus don sgoil-àraich an-diugh. Wishing all our children across the Western Isles a warm welcome as they start or return to school and nursery today. #foghlam #sgoil #firstdayofschool2025

Best of luck to the Stornoway Primary team representing the Western Isles at the #EuroQuiz final in Edinburgh today. Do your best boys! It’s been a pleasure to be able to accompany them on their trip!

A visit to our smallest school in Pairc, Isle of Lewis. Beautiful day to speak with staff and all seven pupils.

Tachartas a-nochd a’ comharrachadh 50 bliadhna de Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Mòran chuimhneachain air an leth-cheud bliadhna mu dheireadh. Civic reception this evening marking 50 years of the council. Many memories of past successes and challenges as well as opportunities for the years ahead.

B’ i Sgoil nan Loch an ath àite an-diugh air mo chuairt timcheall sgoiltean a’ Chomhairle. Turas sgoinneil agus còmhradh fìor mhath le sgoilearan. Next stop today was Sgoil nan Loch on my tour of Comhairle schools. Very good visit, including a good discussion with pupils.

Time to head back on the ferry. Thanks to all the schools across Uist and Barra for your welcome over the last week. It was great to see all the good work going on and it was a pleasure to be able to meet with so many pupils.

Barrachd còmhraidh sàr-mhath le luchd-teagaisg agus sgoilearan, an turas seo aig Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath. More excellent discussions with staff and pupils, this time when visiting Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath this afternoon. Thanks to Cllr Hocine from our Education Committee for joining me for this visit.

Barrachd còmhraidh sàr-mhath le luchd-teagaisg agus sgoilearan, an turas seo aig Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath. More excellent discussions with staff and pupils, this time when visiting Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath this afternoon. Thanks to Cllr Hocine from our Education Committee for joining me for this visit.

A’ tòiseachadh an latha aig Sgoil Bhaile a’ Mhanaich. Bhruidhinn mi ri sgoilearan a tha an sàs ann am beatha na sgoile tro chomataidhean a bhios iad a’ ruith. First visit today was to Balivanich School. Spoke with pupils that are very engaged in the life of the school through their committees.

Finished the day yesterday with a visit to Eoligarry School in Barra. Very enthusiastic pupils who were keen to talk about their school

Choinnich mi ri buidhnean de sgoilearan bho chlasaichean bun-sgoile agus àrd-sgoile ann am Bàgh a’ Chaisteil an-diugh. Met with both primary and secondary pupil groups at @SchoolCastlebay today. Lots of discussion about their school!

Abair madainn bhrèagha ann am Bàgh a’ Chaisteil an-diugh.

Four schools across three islands yesterday. Visits to Sgoil Lionacleit, Sgoil an Iochdair and Sgoil Dhalabroig to meet with SMTs and pupils then over to Barra to meet with the Castlebay School Parent Council in the evening. A great day spent in schools with staff, pupils and parents.

Waiting for the ferry to Berneray this afternoon. School visits and meetings across Uist and Barra for the rest of this week.

Thadhail mi air Bun-sgoil Steòrnabhaigh an t-searching-sa. Chuala mi mun obair a tha iad a’ dèanamh agus choinnich mi ris an Sgioba Stiùiridh Òg. Great visit to Stornoway Primary, our biggest primary school, this week. Found out lots about their improvement work and met the Junior Leadership Team.

Latha ann an seòmar na Comhairle an-diugh le Comataidh Foghlaim, Spòrs agus Seirbheisean Chloinne agus Comadaidh na Gàidhlig an-diugh. Busy day in the Council chamber today with Education, Sport & Children’s Services in the morning and Comataidh na Gàidhlig this afternoon

Bha e math bruidhinn ri cuid de Chomhairle nan Sgoilearan aig Àrd-sgoil MhicNeacail na bu thràithe san t-seachdain. Pleasure to catch up with some members of The Nicolson Institute Pupil Council this week during a visit. Great to hear about their involvement in school improvement.

Deagh thuras gu Sgoil Ùige an-diugh. Còmhradh brosnachail leis na sgoilearan a tha an sàs anns na comataidhean stiùiridh aca. Great visit to Uig School today. It was a pleasure to speak to the pupils in their leadership committees. Their voice is shaping the future of their school

Was a pleasure to meet with the Parent Council Chairpersons of our schools tonight. We covered a lot of business and had good discussions and engagements . Thanks to everyone who joined us online.

Deagh chòmhradh le sgoilearan Sgoil Thunga an-diugh. Excellent visit to Tong School today. Such confident and engaged pupils. They spoke of their leadership roles in the school, their strong voice and how much they are listened to.

Aig Sgoil a' Bhac an-diugh airson cluinntinn mun obair leasachaidh aca agus airson bruidhinn ri Comhairle nan Sgoilearan. It was good to visit Sgoil a’ Bhac today to hear about their development work and to speak to their Parent Council.

Deagh thuras gu Shoil Lacasdail madainn an-diugh. Bha e math bruidhinn ris na caipteanan mun sgoil aca. Enjoyed a great visit to Laxdale Primary today. Discussing progress with our strategic priorities and meeting with school captains to hear their views on their school.

Rare and exciting opportunity to join our Education and Children’s Services leadership team. We are recruiting a Chief Officer for Children’s Services/Chief Social Work Officer. Please share amongst your networks. Closing date 31/03/25. myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/com...

Great presentation from Stornoway Primary at the Islands Literacy Symposium this morning sharing their #ReadingSchools journey with support from @wilibraries.bsky.social and @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social

Tha co-labhairt litearrachd nan eilean a' tòiseachadh ann an Steòrnabhagh an-diugh le Pàdraig MacAoidh a' fosgladh an tachartais. @wilibraries.bsky.social Literacy Symposium gets under way in Stornoway. @saoghalbeag.bsky.social is at the helm and Makar Peter Mackay opened proceedings.

Ann an Obar Dheathain an-diugh airson coinneimh ‘Northern Alliance’. Co-obrachadh cudromach airson foghlam dha na h-ùghdarrasan ionadail sa cheann a tuath. Meeting of the Northern Alliance in Aberdeen today. Important collaboration between education services across the north of Scotland.

Tòrr spòrs is ionnsachadh aig Fèill Saidheans an-diugh aig Sgoil MhicNeacail. Lots of fun and learning at today’s Science Fair at the Nicolson Institute. Lots of great stalls.

✨ World Gaelic Week ✨ 📚 We’re excited to announce our upcoming Islands Literacy Symposium with the Scottish Book Trust & Scotland’s Makar, Peter Mackay 📅 Tues 18/3, 9-10.30am 📍 Stornoway Town Hall 🥐 Breakfast by OnBoard Hebrides 🎟️ Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1216611891... 📸 John Maher

Bha e math tadhal air farpais EuroQuiz an-diugh. Mealaibh ur naidheachd gu Bun Sgoil Steòrnabhaigh a bhuannaich an fharpais. At Laxdale Primary today to see the EuroQuiz competition. Well done to winners Stornoway Primary who will go on to represent the Western Isles in the National finals.

An latha mu dheireadh den cho-labhairt airson àrd-mhanaidsearan foghlaim an-diugh. Fòcas mòr air leasachadh làthaireachd sgoile. Final day of our education senior managers’ conference today with a major focus on improving school attendance.

Fàilte bhlàth gu na h-Eileanan an Iar! Delighted to have North Ayrshire colleagues Elaine Sanderson from Glebe Primary and Linzie Sloan from Irvine Royal Academy with us at the Western Isles Education Senior Managers Conference in Stornoway today to share their school journeys.

Tha Seachdain na Gàidhlig a' tòiseachadh an-diugh. Bidh a’ Chomhairle agus na sgoiltean againn a’ craoladh ar tachartasan agus naidheachdan airson seo fad na seachdain. #SeachdainNaGàidhlig2025

It was a pleasure to attend and present prizes this evening at the Western Isles Young Musician of the Year in the beautiful setting of the Lews Castle. So much young musical talent in our islands.

Driving up through the Isle of Harris is always a pleasure.

Last ferry trip of the week heading from Berneray to Harris on the way home.

Tuigsinn gur e cuspair mòr a tha seo airson coimhearsnachdan an dà sgoil agus is ann air sgàth sin a tha e cudromach gun cluinn sinn beachdan a h-uile duine. This is an important issue for both school communities and that’s why we need to hear from everyone affected. www.bbc.co.uk/naidheachdan...

Round two this afternoon and tonight of community engagement in consideration for rezoning of South Uist schools. Many thanks to everyone who attended Sgoil an Iochdair in your numbers for tonight’s meeting. Online survey is open to 28th March: www.cne-siar.gov.uk/council-and-...

Thanks to Castlebay School Parent Council for the invitation to their meeting tonight. Very good discussions in challenging circumstances as we all try to work together to secure a new school for Barra.

Second ferry crossing of the week. Heading from Eriskay to Barra for the next few days.

An afternoon and evening spent meeting parents and members of the community at Sgoil Dhalabroig as part of engagement activity looking at rezoning of catchments in South Uist. Online survey open now: www.cne-siar.gov.uk/council-and-...

A week of work across Uist and Barra ahead. First ferry crossing of the week this morning over to Berneray. Beautiful morning for it.

CNES Education & Children’s Services department are holding preliminary engagement sessions and are surveying for views about school catchments in South Uist. More information: www.cne-siar.gov.uk/council-and-...

Excellent meeting in Aberdeen of the #NorthernAlliance. Great to see our collaboration continuing beyond the imminent end of RIC funding.

Well worth a read of this article in the #TESScotland where @emmaseith.bsky.social meets our #ADEScotland president Laurence Findlay. Real insight to the challenges facing Scottish education.

Pleased to welcome our Head of Inspection, Louise Turnbull, to Stornoway yesterday. The day included excellent visits to Stornoway Primary, The Nicolson Institute and e-Sgoil. @educationscotland.bsky.social

Barrachd naidheachd mhath a tha a’ toirt taic don Ghàidhlig bho @wilibraries.bsky.social

Deagh chothrom do neach-ciùil a thighinn a dh’ obair còmhla rinn gus ceòl is òrain Ghàidhlig a theagasg nar sgoiltean. #Gaidhlig #EduSky #GaelicEduSky myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/com...

It’s the last sitting of the year of our Education, Sport and Children’s Services Committee today.

Good morning Glasgow!

What are the pros and cons of schools venturing into the changing social media landscape? @nuthmani.bsky.social weighs them up: tes.com/magazine/tea... @tesmagazine.bsky.social