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James Mcenaney

James Mcenaney

The Scotsman

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The surprising trials and tribulations of replacing a primary headteacher After more than two decades in charge, the headteacher of Killermont Primary School in Bearsden is heading off for a well-earned retirement, and a replacement is required. So far, so normal.

This article appears as part of the Lessons to Learn newsletter. After more than two decades in charge, the headteacher of Killermont Primary...

23.05.2024 20

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Pupils with additional support needs are being failed... here's what went wrong Earlier this week, a new report declared that the majority of pupils with additional support needs are being failed… and nobody was surprised.

This article appears as part of the Lessons to Learn newsletter. Earlier this week, a new report declared that the majority of pupils with...

16.05.2024 50

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

The state of Scotland's colleges – things can only get worse? When it comes to Scotland’s colleges, it looks like things can only get ̶b̶e̶t̶t̶e̶r̶ worse.

This article appears as part of the Lessons to Learn newsletter. When it comes to Scotland’s colleges, it looks like things can only get...

09.05.2024 40

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

'Industrial dispute is emotive and principled. It requires sacrifice.'

As The Herald's series into The State of Scotland's Colleges draws to a close, its impact has been noted across the sector. For students it has...

03.05.2024 40

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Swinney, Gilruth, Forbes - Who is be the best First Minister for Scottish education? With Humza Yousaf resigning, which current SNP MSP would be the best First Minister for Scottish education?

It’s done. After just over a year, Humza Yousaf has announced his resignation as the First Minister of Scotland. His replacement will either have...

30.04.2024 20

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Bute House Agreement has been an unmitigated disaster for Scottish education

This article appears as part of the Lessons to Learn newsletter. I know this is meant to be an education newsletter. We’ll get there, I promise....

26.04.2024 10

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Should primary school exclusions be banned? What does the data tell us?

This article appears as part of the Lessons to Learn newsletter. Last weekend, alongside our articles about additional support needs provision...

11.04.2024 20

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

What on earth is going on with apprenticeships in Scotland?

This article appears as part of the Lessons to Learn newsletter. At the end of March, the Scottish Training Federation (STF) issued a press...

04.04.2024 10

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

The council responded to our education cuts story – let's go through it line by line

This article appears as part of the Lessons to Learn newsletter. Today our big front-page story is an exclusive report on the education cuts being...

28.03.2024 10

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

The price society pays for the cost of childcare

This article appears as part of the Lessons to Learn newsletter. This week we’ve been reporting on the impact of childcare costs on families in...

21.03.2024 4

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Politicians chop away at education programmes... then refuse to talk

This article appears as part of the Lessons to Learn newsletter. On Tuesday, we broke three exclusive education stories in one day. All of them...

29.02.2024 4

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

'Staff working conditions are student learning conditions'

This article appears as part of the Lessons to Learn newsletter. A couple of days ago, several people got in touch with me to let me know about a...

22.02.2024 20

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

The plight of Scotland’s rural schools

This article appears as part of the Lessons to Learn newsletter. All through last week, The Herald ran an ongoing special report called The New...

08.02.2024 20

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Should Scotland increase the school starting age?

This article appears as part of the Lessons to Learn newsletter. This week we’ve been exclusively covering an attempt to spark a radical shift...

01.02.2024 20

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Teachers are pushing for increased pay... but is there any money left for it?

This article appears as part of the Lessons to Learn newsletter. This week, Scotland’s teachers submitted their pay claim for the coming year....

25.01.2024 30

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Education review of the Year, James McEnaney: how 2023 changed me

As we approach the end of 2023, we’ve been looking back at the biggest issues and events in Scottish education over the last twelve months. Our...

26.12.2023 9

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

5 reasons to subscribe for our education coverage

We're trying to change the conversation on Scottish education. We want to show support for teachers, pupils and staff alike and give a fair and...

30.11.2023 2

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Watch: The one teaching term that teachers won't use publicly

What is pedagogy? It's a term that teachers won't use when talking about education publicly, but it contributes greatly when informing teaching...

10.11.2023 7

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Watch: How effective teaching is tailored to different kinds of pupils

What is differentiation? Pupils have different needs and ways of learning, so how do teachers account for these variables? Education writer James...

09.11.2023 5

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Watch: Can 1140 hours policy reverse neglect of early learning?

What is the 1140 hours policy? It was designed to help fund early learning and childcare but has it solved issues in the sector? Education writer...

08.11.2023 3

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Watch: How are zero hours contracts a 'positive destination' for schools?

What is a positive destination? Is it a useful metric for measuring pupil success after school or is there more to it? Education writer James...

07.11.2023 1

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Watch: Just how 'revolutionary' is Pupil Equity Funding?

What is Pupil Equity Funding? It was supposed to be a new way to inject money directly into schools but... what's the catch? Education writer James...

06.11.2023 3

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Watch: Health and wellbeing in schools isn't what it used to be...

What is health and wellbeing? It was once considered in simple terms, but what it means has expanded to account for the many complexities of modern...

03.11.2023 2

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Watch: We know 2+2=4, but is numeracy in schools more than just counting?

What is numeracy? Is it just counting numbers? Do sums need to be used in language classes under the Curriculum for Excellence?! Education writer...

02.11.2023 3

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Watch: Literacy in schools? It's more than just the written word

What is literacy? It's just reading and writing, right? Not quite. Like most things in education, there is a bit more to it under the Curriculum for...

01.11.2023 4

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Watch: What is the attainment gap that politicians love to bring up so much?

What is the attainment gap? You know, that thing politicians like to bring up when making a point about the state of Scottish education? Education...

31.10.2023 2

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Watch: What's so excellent about Curriculum for Excellence?

Just what is the Curriculum for Excellence? What path should the curriculum take to make Scottish education truly excellent? Education writer James...

30.10.2023 1

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

James McEnaney: 'Orkney is imperfect and improvable, but also very, very special'

I still can’t quite believe that I got to spend time in Orkney for work, or that it really is my job to visit schools and communities and, to the...

01.10.2023 10

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Review: Sparks from a solar art installation capture the imagination

St Magnus Cathedral must be one of the most striking buildings in the entire country. It’s certainly one of the oldest still in use, with...

01.10.2023 6

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Education in Scotland: Why the Herald is heading to Orkney

Over the coming week The Herald's education correspondent, James McEnaney, reports from Orkney where he finds an education system bound with the...

23.09.2023 7

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

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