Arran trip helped pupils do well in exams, says teacher
A trip to Arran helped pupils from Linwood High School achieve their best in this week’s exam results, according to the school’s headteacher.
The pupils took part in the Aspiration Course at the Outdoor Education Centre on the picturesque Scottish island and headteacher Gillian Macartney said the experience has proven its worth with her pupils’ exam results.
The young people, who were a mixture of fourth and fifth year pupils aged from 14 to 16, initially worked on ‘ice breaker’ tasks then in teams on problem-solving tasks during the trip last November.
Many of the activities at the centre are designed to reinforce a positive mindset, with outdoor activities including an orienteering challenge, building tasks including a rope maze and paddling a canoe while blindfolded.
Ms Macartney said: “There’s a massive legacy from their time on Arran which can be seen in the school.
“Since we came back I’ve heard a number of pupils saying the course has actually changed their whole outlook. Many of those who were on the course are the ones now vying for leadership roles within the school.
“If they were tackling something tricky in class they would now think about how they could achieve it.”
She added: “It’s about having the self-belief and the ability to work with others to problem solve and to ensure they are setting themselves aspirational goals.
“Many found the abseiling task the most challenging but some were so chuffed when they got the bottom they burst into tears at achieving something they thought they could never do.
“I’m very proud of them all and it was great to see how the experience helped spur them onto achieving their full potential with this week’s exam results.”
One of the pupils, Hannah Sloan, 17, said her experience gave her the confidence to apply and become head girl in S6.
She gained four Highers in English, music, biology and chemistry, and she said: “I am really pleased with my exam results, especially in English where I’ve always lacked confidence and was full of self-doubt.
“Being on the course really helped with that and when I was sitting in the exam hall this year I felt much more confident and knew I had the knowledge and skills to achieve what I did.”
Fellow pupil Beth Compston, 15, added: “I got six National 5s this year and I’m proud of myself. I learned how to be far more positive when I was in Arran and deal with things better.
“I definitely think it helped me to go to my exams believing that if I try my best and work hard, I can do well.”
The trip was funded by the Scottish Government’s Attainment Challenge. Renfrewshire is one of nine Scottish Government Attainment Challenge authorities to share a £750m national pot for projects designed to help improve the results of pupils from lessaffluent backgrounds.
Since becoming a challenge authority in June 2016, data gathered indicates that the gap between the most and least deprived pupils has been reducing in listening, talking, reading and writing, and numeracy measurements.