On Monday 19th November, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Life Long Learning, Fiona Hyslop MSP visited the Columba 1400 Leadership Centre in Staffin, Isle of Skye, hosted by Norman Drummond and Columban supporter, Sir Tom Farmer.  The Minister was joined by HM Chief Inspector of schools, Graham Donaldson, and other senior figures in education.

Columban graduates from St Ninian’s High School and Lossiemouth High School joined the Columban team to greet our guests, along with graduates from our Head Teacher Leadership Academy from schools throughout Scotland.

The young graduates gave a compelling picture of all that had been achieved since their return from Skye and the degree to which this had influenced their wider schools and communities.  The Head Teachers gave a similarly hopeful and positive picture of the future for Scottish education and the changes they had been able to make in their own schools.

One of our visitors commented, “It was good to see Columba 1400 in reality… It was great to hear what the young people and teachers had to say, and to find out from such a wide range of head teachers and deputes what the experience had meant for them and for their schools.”

The staff and children of Staffin Primary School also came out to meet the Minister and to welcome our visitors.

We were delighted that thanks to the generosity of Richard Bailey, Keith Punler of the Punler Foundation and Sir Tom Farmer the visits were able to be made by helicopter, thus allowing the day trip to also include a visit to Sabhal Mor Ostaig – the southern star in the Skye firmament!