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Highland Virtual Academy’s success and next steps


By Jean Gunn

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Councillor John Finlayson, chair of the Education Committee.
Councillor John Finlayson, chair of the Education Committee.

Members at last week’s meeting of the Education Committee were updated on the successes of the Highland Virtual Academy (HVA) and the future plans for digital learning in Highland.

The HVA was created five years ago to support equity of the curriculum across Highland, predominantly supporting senior phase pupils. The fast-paced shift to virtual learning for all pupils as a result of Covid-19, required the HVA to evolve and adapt to the change in delivery of education across all age groups.

Chair of the Education Committee, councillor John Finlayson said: “Despite the enormous challenges faced by the pandemic, the Highland Virtual Academy has continued to strengthen its digital technology and support both pupils and staff.

“The national lockdown resulted in schools across the country move to virtual learning for all pupils and this increased the urgency for robust digital learning platforms. For Highland, this move shone a light on the great work being carried out in our digital learning.

“Our pupils and staff members have benefited from new innovative digital tools, enhanced digital skills and this has empowered all learners including pupils, parents, teachers and the wider community that anyone can be a life-long learner in a digitally progressive society.”

Pupils completing senior phase HVA courses are very successful in SQA examinations, with a three-year pass rate of approximately 97 per cent and a high number of pupils achieving upper grades.

The next steps for the HVA in consultation with children and young people, staff, parents and Education Scotland is to continue to provide a timetable of live, interactive online classes for some of our most vulnerable children and young people who find it difficult to access full time education. Bespoke packages will be created with a focus on health and well-being, numeracy, literacy and career ready mentoring.

There is also scope within teacher capacity and timetabling to enhance the current provision of qualifications in Gaelic Medium Education (GME) and to offer learners a national qualification at an earlier stage. It is possible to connect classrooms virtually across Highland and small numbers of pupils could join lessons from different settings virtually, allowing pupils access to Gaelic Medium Specialist teachers.


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