I’m proud of our school pupils

In the last week we have seen a number of local school pupils receiving awards for their achievements.

I was particularly proud to see a school from my constituency win the First Minister’s Reading Challenge.

St James’Primary School was given the award by the First Minister for being the school reading the most books in Scotland. Primary 7 pupil Kieran Mitchell was also given the Pupil Reading Journey Award at the awards ceremony in Edinburgh.

Almost 1,000 primary schools across Scotland took part in the challenge, opening up a world of adventure and fun to young people whilst also giving them really important literacy, writing and language skills. For a school and pupil from Renfrewshire to win a national award of this stature is fantastic, and I encourage any local school which isn’t already taking part in the challenge to sign up for next year.

Congratulations must also go to Gryffe High School’s 2018 Spanish Tourism Apprentice Challenge winners Marc Rennie, Sam Whaley and Tom Whaley.

Locally, we have an abundance of talented and hardworking kids, and it is wonderful to see some of their efforts, and those of their teachers and parents, rewarded.

As schools break up for the summer holidays today, I hope all pupils and teachers have a great time off.