Schools to receive ambition funds

Pupils at all the schools will learn new creative skills

A total of 21 schools are to benefit from extra funding as they become schools of ambition, the Scottish Executive has announced.

The secondary schools will each receive at least an extra £100,000 a year for the next three years.

Headteachers will have control over how the money is spent.

The schools, spread across Scotland, will develop various programmes covering areas such as enterprise, vocational education and leadership.

At Charleston Academy in Inverness, SPL team Inverness Caledonian Thistle and the Highland Football Academy will be involved in trying to build excellence in sport.

Elsewhere, at Taylor High School in Motherwell, pupils will get the chance to experience DVD production, podcasting and digital recording.

Leadership skills

Education Minister Hugh Henry said: "There are some very innovative and creative ideas coming out of our schools of ambition. They are forging new ways of making sure we do our best for all our young people.

"Many of these ideas, for example focusing on leadership skills, can help us to make sure all our young people become successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens."

But the SNP said that every school should be a school of ambition.

Fiona Hyslop, education and lifelong learning spokeswoman, said: "We welcome any additional support for schools across Scotland.

"However, we must remember that this proposal will benefit only a small proportion of Scotland's children."