Meeting of the Parliament 06 February 2024
I thank my colleague in representing the Highlands and Islands region, Donald Cameron, for lodging the motion and providing us with an opportunity to discuss the excellent work that is carried out at Dunoon grammar school and the potential that it demonstrates for community-supported education across Scotland.
I had the pleasure of visiting Dunoon grammar in the lead-up to the 26th United Nations climate change conference of the parties—COP 26—when I met students who were part of the eco-sustainability group to discuss the action that is needed on climate and nature. I had a tremendous conversation with them. At that time, David Mitchell, the headteacher, also gave me a tour of the school and showed me all the other amazing activities that people were up to. I had the opportunity to talk to other students and to staff, and I certainly got a tremendous impression of what was taking place in the school.
I am looking forward to returning to the school soon, to meet Mr Mitchell again and to work with pupils on developing a place plan for their community, alongside Dunoon Community Development Trust. It is wonderful to see Mr Mitchell, pupils and staff in the public gallery this evening.
Dunoon grammar’s example does not simply reflect excellent practice in community engagement—it is transforming what a community is perceived to be, and how our young people engage with their local environment, neighbours and culture. That community engagement goes much deeper than the fundraising events and occasional open days with which we are all probably familiar. Working in partnership with third sector organisations and social enterprises to achieve common goals inspires pupils and adds to the vibrancy of life in the town.
How many pupils will know what a place plan is, let alone take an active part in creating one? Yet we all know how vital safe, connected and flourishing community spaces are to young people, whether that is about creating places that make it easy for them to travel on foot or by bicycle, ensuring high-quality play and recreation provision, or creating environments that are well lit and feel safe for meeting friends.
Making our built environment, especially in rural areas, a welcoming space for young people is a key, but often overlooked, aspect of rural population. So, too, is ensuring that there are secure, well-paid jobs in a variety of sectors and, crucially, that the young people who are growing up in rural communities are equipped with the skills that they need to secure those jobs. We know that, in the past year, the number of jobs in the renewables industry has increased by 50 per cent in Scotland, and many of those roles are in my Highlands and Islands region. There is also a growing demand for skilled tradespeople and engineers to build the 11,000 rural homes that the Scottish Government is committed to creating; to retrofit and insulate existing homes; and to install and maintain low-carbon heating systems.
Increasingly, we are opening up a range of new jobs by tackling the climate and nature emergencies, through peatland and rainforest restoration, woodland and deer management and ecotourism. Those job opportunities, like the development roles in the carbon neutral islands scheme, give young people the opportunity not just to have fulfilling work in their rural communities, but to play a part in shaping the future of those places. Perhaps the place-plan work at Dunoon grammar will inspire a few students to become much-needed planners.
However, education is about so much more than producing the workers of the future. It is about developing creative, critical thinkers, nurturing talent and inspiring the next generation through curiosity and a love of learning.