Cabinet Secretary sees award-winning education project

An award-winning project involving school pupils from Irvine receives a seal of Government approval.

Mike Russell MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, is visiting the i sea project run at Irvine Royal Academy in partnership with Irvine Bay Regeneration Company and the Scottish Maritime Museum.

Mr Russell is to learn more about the project, during a visit to the museum today, 7 September.

The i sea initiative walked off with top prize in The Technology Teachers Association Award for Best Cross-Curricular Project in 2009.

The project saw second-year pupils in English, Technical, Art and Home Economics classes create work based around the theme of the sea – in keeping with Irvine Bay Regeneration Company’s aim of promoting and revitalising the stunning stretch of North Ayrshire coastline that encompasses the towns of Irvine, Kilwinning, Ardrossan, Saltcoats, and Stevenston.

The youngsters took photographs of exhibits at the museum, and used these to create artworks, craftworks, poems, stories and the creation of exhibit stands from driftwood and timber.

The work of the pupils was put on show at the museum throughout the summer.

Patrick Wiggins, Chief Executive of Irvine Bay Regeneration Company, said:

“Young people are a key constituency to successful regeneration of the area. Irvine Bay faces a drifting away from the area of young people. Our strategy involves improving physical infrastructure and environment to attract new businesses and encourage existing businesses to grow within the area. A key component is the availability of a pool of talent that growing and incoming businesses can employ.

“Our education programme is soundly based in supporting the Curriculum for Excellence by helping to enhance the capacities of our young people, adding interest to school learning, and better preparing young people for the world of work.

“We have actively engaged with around 2,000 young people across 10 schools since Aug 2008. In 2010 we will be rolling out the programme across all primary schools in the area.

“i sea is now in its 3rd year. When we worked with our partners to develop the project we knew it was important that it is sustainable and we give teachers the support, tools, advice they need to be able to carry on with less involvement from us.”

Sam Galbraith, Chair of the Trustees of the Scottish Maritime Museum said: “Mike Russell’s visit gives the Museum an opportunity to demonstrate to the Minister the range of exhibits and materials that have enormous potential for the development of the Curriculum for Excellence. Irvine Royal Academy was the first secondary school to benefit from those resources in Irvine but the Museum is also making a significant contribution to Primary work in West Dunbartonshire and Renfrew.”

The Museum is to appoint its first Education Officer on the day following the Minister’s visit.

Stirling Mackie, Head Teacher of Irvine Royal Academy said: “One of the foundation stones of Curriculum for Excellence is partnership working. Within our school we have developed strong partnership working within and across subjects and departments, but it is only with the support and involvement of outside agencies such as Irvine Bay and the Maritime Museum, that the full potential of the new curriculum can be fully realised.”