Schools receive major funding boost
Cash will help with language development
Eleven education centres in West Lothian have received over €145,000 in grants from a European funding initiative which helps support education, training, youth and sport.
Ten primary schools and West Lothian College have all benefitted from the Erasmus+ European Union funding programme since the start of the year to the tune of €145,847, which is around £127,023.
Among those awarded funding were St Nicholas Primary School in Broxburn which was awarded €27,900, West Lothian College with €21, 362 and St John Ogilvie RC Primary in Livingston which was given €16, 275.
Karen Brown, St Nicholas head teacher, said: “Erasmus funding has played a pivotal role in supporting our whole school development of 1+2 languages across our school community.
“Teaching and non-teaching staff have attended Erasmus immersion courses in Spain and France, learning exciting, innovative and engaging contexts for teaching Spanish and French in class and across all contexts of the school community.
“The impact for our learners has been significant and our latest Erasmus + funding will further support new and exciting language initiatives for all our learners.”
Many of the primary schools will use the funding for language development and training.
Linlithgow Primary School received € 6975 towards building capacity to deliver 1+2 modern languages while St Anthony’s Primary School in Armadale received € 9300 for language learning and training.
The other primary schools to receive funding were Holy Family Primary, Winchburgh (€13,950), Parkhead Primary School, West Calder (€6015), Simpson Primary School, Bathgate (€ 4650), Springfield Primary School, Linlithgow (€11,625), St Mary’s RC Primary, West Calder (€ 13,335) and Windyknow Primary, Bathgate (€14,460).
Fiona Hyslop, SNP MSP for Linlithgow, whose constituency received €88,860, approximately £78,169, welcomed the funding.
She said: “I am pleased to see this funding increase for Erasmus+, the European Union programme as it demonstrates a huge appetite across West Lothian’s education, youth and voluntary sectors for international exchange, collaboration and partnership.
“This clearly shows the importance of EU funding and how schools in my constituency have benefitted through €88,860 in funding in 2018 and I would like to pass on my congratulations to the communities across West Lothian who are making this important work happen.
“I would encourage all local community groups in my constituency with links to education, training, youth and sport to keep their eye on the Erasmus+ website for details of future funding applications.”
More information on Erasmus+funding can be found at https://www.erasmusplus.org. uk/funding-deadlines.
Erasmus funding has played a pivotal role in supporting our whole school development