Gordon Young, Head Teacher Lionacleit School

On the 23rd May 2001 Tony Blair (in his publishing of the Labour party manifesto) said: “Education, education, education.”

It was meant as an indication to the nation that education would be the main focus of their next term, with year on year investment and recognition of the worth of the teaching profession.
At the time, I was in 3rd year of university, on my way to completing a teaching degree and these words meant a lot to me. As a young man from a single parent family, with a mother who worked every hour she could to ensure that I was well provided for, education had done right by me. Education was then and still is, a route to better prospects, a way of securing employment and developing a career that would be unavailable without the right qualification.

I mention my family circumstances to highlight that I am no stranger to the financial struggles that families can face. I was in primary school in the days when free school meals meant a different coloured lunch ticket, an embarrassment that I eventually refused to endure, which meant Mam had to find the money to feed me a ‘home dinner’ rather than a free school lunch. The system that was meant to be supportive became a barrier. I have never forgotten how it made me feel to be treated differently when I needed support. I have never forgotten how fiercely my mother fought against any suggestion that, as a single parent, she was less capable of taking care of me. But at the same time, looking back as an adult, I recognise how tough things must have been at times.

Thankfully, things have changed significantly for the better. Electronic payment, where free school meal entitlement is automatically added to the balance, is a hugely positive step forward. Clothing and uniform grants, where you can send the forms centrally to Stornoway rather than hand them in, are all steps in the right direction. Unfortunately, the current economic climate means that families are going to be feeling the pinch more than any time I can remember as a teacher.

Helping families who may be having a tough time is difficult for schools as sometimes people either don’t want to ask for help or don’t know what help they are entitled to. This can sometimes be made worse in a small community as people want to preserve their right to privacy.

I would like to use this platform to reach all of our families. Some people manage all of the time, some manage sometimes and others are really struggling to make ends meet – the vast majority of families will move through all of these stages at some point. If there is anything that we as a school can do to help you then please do not hesitate to get in touch. Some examples would be: helping to fill in forms, making sense of what benefits are available or helping to provide some new school uniform.

I find it very difficult to think that some families may be struggling and have no-one to turn to. This is made worse for families who are mostly managing (and do not qualify for other benefits) but can face an unexpected cost that has an effect on their budgeting. If this is you, then please recognise that we are here for you; we will help and support you in any way we can.

If you would like to discuss anything that is mentioned above then please call in to the school office, contact your young person’s guidance teacher or, if privacy/confidentiality is a worry for you, then contact me personally.

Schools have become more than places of learning; we offer stability for young people and routines and a safe space for others. Teachers are aware of the needs of young people and want to help them achieve at a level that is suitable for them.

Education has moved on from a focus on five Highers and an endpoint of a university degree. Scottish Higher qualifications used to be referred to as ‘the gold standard’.

I often wonder what pathway I would have taken in today’s world of education rather than the late 90s/early 2000s. You see, the pathway I was on then got me a good job in a career that I love and have prospered in. However, it also brought me tens of thousands pounds of debt and four years of struggling to make ends meet in a community that was not my own, far from my family.
Young people today have different options available to them.

Our academic results this year at Sgoil Lionacleit have many success stories. We have young people who achieved six As at National 5, or five As at Higher; we also have young people who completed foundation apprenticeships and have moved into employment working towards modern apprenticeships. We have young people with vocational course qualifications and work experience with local firms that has led to employment. There are many pathways for young people – the days of five Highers and University being viewed as the only way to be successful are gone. At Sgoil Lionacleit, staff encourage young people to access the path that is right for them. For some that will be an apprenticeship, or straight into employment, for others it will be college or university.

When I was asked to write this piece, the good exam results were mentioned as a positive news story that I might want to discuss. In fact, the exam results (good as they are) only make up a small part of the success story of our schools in the last three years. The main indicator for me is the positive destinations for our leavers:

2019 – 97.8%
2020 – 100%
2021 – 98.2%

Especially when viewed against the National picture:
2019 – 95.05%
2020 – 93.36%
2021 – 95.48%

With all of this in mind, for young people in Sgoil Lionacleit, education is doing right by them.