East Plean PS celebrates success at the Scottish Education Awards

East Plean Primary School has been honoured with a major prize at the Scottish Education Awards.

Two adults flank three children, who are holding an award on stage against a backdrop that reads 'Scottish Education Awards 2023'
Host Des Clarke and Head Teacher Ruth Donnelly with pupils (l to r): Sofia, Evelina and Lily Rose

The Stirling Council school won the Making A Difference (Primary) award for nurturing equality, achievement and wellbeing among its children and young people.

East Plean pupils Sofia, Evelina and Lily Rose joined Head Teacher Ruth Donnelly to accept the award at a glittering ceremony in Glasgow on Wednesday (7 June), attended by 350 finalists from schools across Scotland.

The Autism Provision team at St Modan’s High and Colin Turnbull of Dunblane High also received national recognition after being shortlisted in the Making a Difference (Secondary) and Teacher of the Year categories.

Empowering

Ruth Donnelly said: “East Plean is thrilled to receive the Making a Difference Scottish Education Award this year. It’s wonderful to have an opportunity to celebrate the incredible work our young people, staff and families do every day in our community.

“Empowering our young people to lead, innovate, make change and be active participants in their community is at the heart of all we do in our school. 

“We would like to give huge thanks to our pupils, parents, families and the community of Plean, as well as our staff. They support, inspire and ensure our learners ‘attend, aspire and achieve’.

“Our East Plean community is truly working together, with drive and commitment, to make a difference.”

A picture of a three children on stage, being presented with an award against a backdrop that reads 'Scottish Education Awards 2023.'
Proud as punch: (l to r) pupils from East Plean Primary School accept their award from host Des Clarke.

The Scottish Education Awards are now in their 23rd year and Camstradden Primary School in Glasgow and Greenburn Primary School in South Lanarkshire were also shortlisted alongside East Plean.

Convener for Children and Young People, Cllr Danny Gibson added: “This award is richly deserved and reflects on the outstanding work undertaken by Ruth Donnelly and her team at East Plean.

Nurturing

“The award was open to schools that had demonstrated an effectiveness in transforming the life chances of the children and young people it serves. East Plean has been innovative in nurturing achievement and wellbeing in the local community.

“The team in Autism Provision at St Modan’s High and Colin Turnbull at Dunblane High should also be commended for their achievement in making the shortlist in their categories.

“We appreciate the hard work of everyone who works in education across Stirling and the incredible support they receive from their local communities to encourage our children and young people to be the very best they can be.”