PostingsCaledonian WINTER 2015/2016 > UPDATES FROM THE ROYAL CALEDONIAN EDUCATION TRUST WELCOME > FORCES KIDS TOURS SCOTTISH SCHOOLS specially commissioned theatre production A organised by the Royal Caledonian Education Trust (RCET) in its bicentenary year This is the second of our enlarged has been seen by nearly 4,000 Bicentenary Newsletters and comes pupils from all over Scotland. to you as the majority of our The play was performed in celebrations have taken place. schools throughout the country Of the many celebration attended by Armed Forces highlights that stand out, the children. The cast are from strength of the support for the Glasgow-based Hopscotch Trust’s work has been hugely Theatre Company, which has encouraging. Thank you to all who been producing theatre in have responded so far to the education shows for more than Bicentenary Appeal, your help 25 years. makes a real difference. The other Forces Kids follows the story of major highlight for me has been to Kevin whose dad is serving in the see first-hand the Trust’s first Armed Forces. Kevin is anxious commissioned piece of Theatre in about his dad’s deployment and Education, the Hopscotch Theatre misses him terribly. He also has Company’s production of Forces to face the challenges of taking Kids. Watching the children we seek on extra responsibilities at home, to support and their peers while still adjusting to life at a new immersed in the play and clearly school. Pupils watching the show identifying with what they were accompany Kevin on his journey watching was a wonderful as he learns to cope with fear, loss PICTURED: From left: Moira Leslie (RCET), reaffirmation of the work of the and bullying in order to find hope, Natalie Clarke (actor, “Georgie”), James Gibson Trust and the incredibly positive self-confidence and trust. (p7, 11yrs), Shona Robertson (p7, 9yrs), Joe Proctor (actor, “Kevin”), Scott Armstrong (p7, 11yrs) and Rev Dr attitude of those children. The RCET commissioned Angus Morrison (Moderator of the General Assembly of The bicentenary continues and Hopscotch last year to write a play the Church of Scotland) who visited one of the primary we are looking forward to taking that the Trust could incorporate schools to see the performance part in The Patron’s Lunch in June into its education programme to next year. We are proud to be one further help education of the charities of which Her professionals and organisations We wanted to build on the classroom activities, lesson plans Majesty The Queen is Patron and in Scotland support Armed phenomenal success of Forces and an after show discussion to we intend to make the most of that Forces children and young people Kids – This is My Life and use provide young people with the celebration. There is an article about experiencing difficulties in school. the medium of theatre to explore chance to explore their own The Patron’s Lunch in this RCET Education Manager, these issues with younger ones, journey as a Forces Kid. newsletter, which I urge you to read. Moira Leslie, explained: “We mainly P2s and P4s. Forces Kids The resources emphasise Finally, a huge thank you goes to know that some children who encourages empathy and greater the importance of Emotional my wonderful Trust colleagues. I am are separated from their parent understanding within its young Literacy and Active Listening in very fortunate to work with such an during deployment can struggle audience, whether they have raising standards of attainment outstanding group of people. to come to terms with their parents away from home or not.” and improving personal feelings and emotions and this Forces Kids is accompanied achievement and life chances for James MacBain can have an impact on how they by an online Resource Pack for Scotland’s potentially vulnerable Chief Executive, RCET behave and perform in school. P2 – P4. These resources include children and young people. EDUCATION PROGRAMME NEWS CPD event at Kinloss Primary School, Moray RECOGNISED: Carolyn MacLeod RCET Education Manager, Moira training courses being offered Leslie, delivered training on to schools and community Emotional Literacy to 26 Kinloss groups across Scotland. Primary School staff. Feedback was extremely positive. “An > If you are interested, please Introduction to Emotional get in touch by emailing Moira Literacy” is one of three RCET Leslie [email protected] UN Rights of the Child Moira Leslie and Amanda and peers, there is very little Menzies, Highland’s Armed empirical evidence to bridge Forces Development Office, the gap in knowledge of this have played a pivotal role in vulnerable group. ensuring that youngsters from “Recommendation 58: UK Armed Forces families are and Scottish Government included in the NGO Alternative should determine how many Report to the Committee on the children are affected by a family UN Rights of the Child, that was member in the Armed Forces Recognised in published in July 2015. The and ensure that the views of following is an extract from this group of children are this document. gathered to help ensure that Honours List “Little attention has been their needs are met.” given to children affected by This opportunity arose The Trust is delighted to responsibility for creating a parents or siblings in the Armed thanks to our close links with share the news that Carolyn blueprint for education policy Forces. This group of children Together (Scottish Alliance for MacLeod is among the affecting the movement of can experience anxiety and Children’s Rights) who hosted extraordinary people in the Forces children in, out and worry when a member of their a meeting with the Scottish UK to be recognised in June within Scotland. family is deployed overseas. Youth Parliament and Ms Amal 2015 with an MBE in Her She remains seconded to Whilst there is anecdotal Aldoseri, Vice Chair of UN Rights Majesty The Queen’s Birthday ADES and continues her role evidence that many children of the Child. Honours List. as advisor to the RCET’s affected by a family member Carolyn joined the Royal Education Programme. in the Armed Forces feel > For further details, please visit Caledonian Education Trust in Chief Executive, James unsupported by professionals www.togetherscotland.org.uk 2008 to spearhead the Trust’s MacBain said: “Carolyn is an Education Programme in inspirational colleague who SCSG guest speaker Scotland. As a result of her gives so much to supporting knowledge and breadth of the educational needs of At the September meeting of welcome Together’s Policy experience in this area, Armed Forces children in the Service Children’s Support and Communications Carolyn took up a secondment Scotland as well as to the Group meeting (SCSG) the Officer, Emma Grindulus as National Transitions Officer work of the Trust and ADES. RCET was delighted to as guest speaker. for the Association of It is tremendous that her Directors of Education in incredible contribution has Youth Philanthropy Scotland (ADES) with been recognised in this way.” Initiative (YPI) Four third-year students from then present to a panel of Charleston Academy, Inverness, external adjudicators. We are Education events have chosen the RCET as their delighted that they have chosen charity for their YPI project. to highlight the work of the Over the next few months, the RCET will present workshops The students will produce a RCET and irrespective of the at the following education events: 10-minute presentation which final outcome we are very will be initially judged by their grateful to them for raising ■ Highland Network Conferences – Brora 26 January 2015 teachers and classmates. awareness of the work of the ■ Highland Network Conference – Dingwall 28 January If they are successful, they will RCET in their school. ■ SCISS Conference – North Yorkshire 29 January 2015 Patron: Her Majesty The Queen Contact details: The Royal Caledonian Education Trust Chairman: Malcolm Noble 1st Floor, Queen Elizabeth House, 4 St Dunstan’s Hill, London EC3R 8AD Chief Executive: James MacBain Tel: 020 7463 9232 Email: [email protected] Web: www.rcet.org.uk 2 • Caledonian Postings 2015 Practitioner’s Conference his year more than a hundred education professionals, T military personnel, local authority, Government and voluntary sector partners attended the RCET Practitioner’s Conference, which took place on 6 October at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh. The aims of this year’s conference were: a) to better understand the challenges facing children and young people from Armed Forces families in Scotland; b) to share good practice in meeting their needs; c) to benefit from making new partnerships and alliances that will help support Armed Forces children and young people in Scotland. Air Vice-Marshal Ross Paterson, DELEGATES: At the RCET Air Officer for Scotland, opened the Practitioner’s Conerence conference with an update of the RAF structure in Scotland. He explained the RAF’s new the necessity of agencies working in Scotland on their success in Employment Model and what this together to ensure that Armed Delegates also achieving 74 per cent of bids under means for serving personnel and Forces children in Scotland receive enjoyed the the Military Covenant. Clive their families. Matt Blyton, Primary the support they need, which reiterated the Covenant objective Lead Improvement Adviser for North includes support around their health participation and of ensuring Armed Forces children Yorkshire’s Education and Skills and wellbeing needs, to help them involvement of ‘have the same standard of and Service, outlined some of the make the most of their school access to education, including early practical strategies adopted in education and be fully included in youngsters from years services, as any other UK North Yorkshire to cope with their learning, no matter how long the Cadets who citizen, in the area that they live’.