Queensberry Initiative

Firstly I need to apologies for the lack of blogging lately. It’s been a really busy term since Easter but we’ve much more on now between now and the summer holidays.

Let’s catch up on what been happening in the last few weeks.
The D of E pupils have been out on their expeditions for Gold, Silver and Bronze levels, with some getting sun burnt and others getting completely soaked.
The Rural Skills classes have completed their modules and practical assessments and we now have our new Int 1 and Int 2 classes started. They are off to the Highland Show this Friday.
The forestry class finished all of their assessments and enjoyed the piloted course which we are able to run again this school year. We have 13 forestry pupils in the new class who will undertake practical activities on the estate along side the theory of woodlands and forestry.
We have just finished the last interviews for our support groups. Most of the pupils were really positive and are keen to be part of the group again next year. Most said that the experience really helped them gain confidence, work better as a team and build friendships within the group. We will start our new groups in September with our current pupils having the option to rejoin along with new pupils who feel they need the extra support.
English classes have had some interesting visits to the estate to meet and talk with Rab Clarke the head gamekeeper at the estate. They had been studying Danny the Champion of the World and wanted to research the different sides to gamekeeping.
S1 History have been using the castle as inspiration for their own designs of family crests.
Queensberry Initiative under took to organise some activities for activities week in school, when S1, S2 and S4 pupils have the opportunity to take part in different pastimes and activities that they hadn’t done before or wanted to try. The aim is to encourage teamwork along with the pupils having the chance to have a break from their usual school day to try new activities and interact with pupils from different year groups.
The Queensberry Initiative team have also been looking into options for setting up a Social Enterprise within the school that could be run by the pupils. We have been researching some possible ways of setting this up. We visited John Mellis’s honey business and had the chance to see inside the hives. It was a really interesting visit and we managed to enjoy the visit without any bee stings.
The Higher Art classes have had the opportunity to do draw and paint in the wonderful surroundings of castle gardens.
On Wed 8th June leader were hosting some Finnish Youth Workers who came to visit us at school to find out more about what we do here and how our jobs are similar at times. We then went to the estate for a look around the gardens, a tour of the castle and some lunch. They seemed to enjoy their visit to Scotland and we certainly enjoyed the Finnish sweets they gave us.
Duncow Primary School have been out on the estate this term. They were looking at some of the art in the castle. The drawings they came up with were really great. I also set up a little numeracy and literacy activity in the woodlands. We all got a bit wet but pupils seemed happy with their day.
With the support from Dumfries and Galloway College the construction skills courses has started again. The pupils begin with brick laying which is taking place at the estate using some of the livestock sheds until the animals need to be moved in for the winter.
One of the science classes had an unusual trip just last week. 18 physics students were at Floors pig farm using the ultrasound equipment. They had been studying this in class and wanted to try it out for themselves. It was a really great visit but some didn’t enjoy the encounters with the pigs!!
It was back to Rab Clarke the head gamekeeper at Buccleuch for a modern studies class. The class were looking at local rural and urban employment. Rab was able to explain how game keeping effects the wider area not just Nithsdale, with tourist coming and staying, shopping and eating in the area. The pupils were amazed at how much it could cost if you wanted to have you and friends stay in the castle and go shooting.
During week Mrs Kirby and I went along to a Rotary meeting to have some dinner and to tell the members all about the Queensberry Initiative. We even got some of the members to agree to become business mentors. It was a great chance to get to know some more local business people.
Today Rural Skills, MER and Hospitality are off at the Highland Show so hopefully it has stayed dry there for them.

We now have only 2 weeks left but lots more exciting activities and trips that our pupils are taking part in.

The Rural Skills students were down at Low Gardens helping with the busy lambing season. The pupils help to some rings on the lambs’ tails, mark them, dose if needed and are often clearing out the pens ready for the next lot of new mums. The forestry pupils were working on their portfolios which need to be completed to pass the units they are studying.
The current S1 Project pupils have finished their chapter for the Thornhill booklet so we gave them a little challenge. They had to go in teams around Thornhill getting photos of items from a list of 20.
Thursday saw the Int 2 Rural skills pupils at Low Gardens doing their bit for the lambing season.
The MER students had been keeping some salmon fry in a cooled tank in the classroom. Today was the big release day. Along with local fishing fans and Nith Fisheries Trust we released thousands of salmon into the river Nith.

Easter Holidays Monday 4th – Friday 15th April

The Int 1 Rural skills class were out helping Scott with some fencing that they have been working on. The forestry pupils climbed up to Camling to look at the forestry extraction that has been stopped due to the presence of badgers. This is to show the pupils the different aspects of forestry and the paperwork that goes behind all of it.
We had a visit from Alan Cameron who is an education officer with Dumfries and Galloway Council. He wants to make a film about the support groups we run and how it helps our young people with the next stages of their lives.
On Wednesday we did some work on out new Queensberry Initiative web site which is proving to be a much bigger job than first expected. However we feel it’ll be worth the extra work when its finished.
Both rural skills classes were out on the estate today. They were being instructed by BASC Scotland in safety shooting. We all had the chance with 10 clay pigeons. No one managed 10 but some came close. It was a great exercise for the pupils showing great respect for the instructors and responsibility for what they were doing.
On Friday we had some visitors here seeing the project and meeting the pupils while out using the estate. They were from our current funders and hopefully some new potential funders and supporters.

Rural Skills were helping out at Low Gardens today. They have had a busy lambing season and the pupils help with the little jobs that are a great help.
The forestry class were working on their tree identification skills as they have not done any identification since the beginning of the year. Later that day a second year marketing class were on the estate to do a marketing exercise at the estate office. The group had to help with the marketing of a new dog food that the estate is looking into. The pupils even got inspiration from having some of the Buccleuch gun dogs present while they were thinking of how to market this new product.
The rural skills students were out on the estate helping with some maintenance before the busy tourist season starts.
On Friday morning we were out with our S2 support group pupils who took part in a photo scavenger hunt. Each team gets a list of items that they need to get photos of within a set time. Some are pretty easy but some also take time to work out and teamwork is essential for this task.

As part of the rural skills course the pupil need to understand techniques in hard and soft landscaping. Today some of the class were helping with some fencing. They have started a section of field that they are hoping to be able to finish from now until the end of term. They seem to be making good progress as they only have about an hour a week to do this. The rest of the students were with the rangers helping with some drain work, another important skill that has been identified.
The forestry students were out looking at some different sites and discussing the methods they have learned in class.
The S1 project pupil were in Thornhill village to interview some of the local people as part of their Re-branding Thornhill booklet.
We were with the P7 support group on Wednesday. We did some new trust games then a photo scavenger hunt to help work on their teamwork skills. After a quick lunch we headed for the Academy for our taster lesson in craft and design. We all got to make our own little keyring even Anne Marie and I but I think the pupils showed more flair for the subject.
Rural skills were out on the estate today, helping the gamekeepers take down some old fencing from one of their rearing areas. It was a horrible day, wet and cold but we got the job done. I was really pleased to see all the pupils getting stuck in even though we were all a bit miserable! By the time we got back to school we were all soaked through. I even missed the staff meeting that day in an attempt to dry off!
On Friday I was at the Grounds for Learning Conference in Perth displaying information about the Queensberry Initiative and getting new ideas that we could use here.

We had the start of our latest business mentors sessions beginning again today. That afternoon the rural skills Int 1 class were out helping with some fencing and some drain clearing.
Tuesday was the day for the BBC to be at Closeburn Primary to make an audio visual resource. This included working with different transition groups. The P7 pupils were filming the P1 and P2 doing some outdoor environmental education. They were in charge of the filming, recording audio and then doing some of the editing. The results of this can be seen on the BBC Learning web site. http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/learning/lab/projects/
We had the rest of our business mentor meetings on Wednesday which went well and we have been thinking of some ideas as to how we may change things for next year so more pupils get the chance to meet with our mentors.
That afternoon we had a visit from the Duke of Buccleuch who was interested in the development of the QI and how we are moving forward.
Rural Skills were helping out with some fencing as it’s a busy time of year for the Buccleuch fencing staff.
Friday morning was the turn of the S3 support group. They were out mountain biking for their activity. It was difficult to keep up with the pupils but we tried. They seemed to really enjoy it.

This week was a short one for the students. All staff were off on Monday but back in for two inset days on the Tuesday and Wednesday. This is a great time to do some planning and for QI it’s a great chance to go and see teachers and get them thinking about making some bookings for the outdoor classroom. We also got the chance to research some funding options.
Thursday morning was rural skills but I think with the short week not all the pupils were prepared with their outdoor kit so we went out to view some of the work that the Int 1 class had done on the local paths.
Friday morning was the support groups and this week it was the S4 class. They were being coached by Jason Ward from Active Schools. They have been coached how to set up an activity for a younger age group and how to then coach them.
That afternoon I was out with the D of E students. We’re really seeing a big difference in them while out walking and each week they seem more prepared for the weather.

We started off this week looking into the idea of a new web site for the Queensberry Initiative. It looks pretty simple to get set up but Anne Marie and I are a bit nervous for when it comes to us trying to update it alone. Shaun Graham, the admin apprentice in the school, is taking us through it step by step.
Rural Skills Int 1 were in school on Monday working on some of their project, using photos from each week to demonstrate what they have been doing this academic year.
The forestry class were at the Barony this week getting the chance to use their forestry harvesting simulator. For health and safety reasons it’s very difficult for the students to get close enough to see a harvester in action. At the Barony the pupils have the chance to feel that they are in control of huge expensive machines complete with moving seats.
Over break time on Tuesday we had our QISG meeting which is always little nerve- racking. This time we had some students included in the meeting which brought an extra value to the table to have their views.
After lunch we were with the S1 Project group putting final touches to their section of the booklet for Thornhill. The pupils’ work is looking great and we’re all looking forward to having a launch for it going onto the Thornhill community web site.
Rural Skills Int 2 were at Low Gardens helping to work with the sheep but they needed to be mindful that they were now heavy in lamb which made the students rethink how they might handle them to ensure the low stress levels to the sheep.
Friday morning was the S2 support group’s last session with Gary Bonn doing Palaeoquest, This session went really well with all the pupils trying to get really involved so much so that there were a few tumbles when the games got a bit rougher. That afternoon the MER were given the opportunity to visit Caerlaverock WWT site. We were meet by Brian Morrell the education officer for the site. He gave us an informative talk about the sites history and how it is managed for the visiting barnacle geese. We climbed to the top of some of the watch towers to enable us to get a clear view of the scale of the site and the amount of birds that visit there each winter.
That afternoon the D of E students had a little change of scene. They were walking at Morton Castle this week. I think they enjoyed the chance to see a different part of the local scenery.

We started this week with a extended QI meeting, discussing what we have done to date and what is coming up in the next few weeks.
Straight after this we met with the Social Enterprise Academy to discuss ides for setting up a social enterprise within school and in the community and how we would take this forward.
That afternoon I got my wellies back on to help the rural skills int1 class do some sheep tagging.
The forestry class were inside for a wee change to work on their portfolios. Mr Treadaway from the Barony forestry department has been teaching the group this year.
After lunch the S1 Project group were working on the style of their leaflet on Thornhill and planning the layout.
Wednesday was spent with our P7 transition group. This was the second time we have worked with them. We asked Gary Bonn to lead the group this time. He gave the pupils an introduction to Palaeoquest and showed them some of the games children would have played back in hunter/gatherer days. We then came to the Academy to have a taster lesson with the RE teacher Mr Wilson. He had prepared a quiz and some fun worksheets for the class to try out. This was the first time many of the pupils had looked at other religions and they were really interested. Most of the group knew more than they had thought they knew.
Rural skills Int 2 were visiting Stewart Jamieson’s organic dairy farm and were really interested in the differences between the types of diary farming.
I was then at Closeburn Primary to organise details for Tues 1st March when the BBC are coming to film an audio slideshow at the primary.
Friday morning we had the S1 support group out on the estate. They were being coached in falconry from members of the Galloway Falconry team. They learned lots about the birds of prey they have, how to tie a falconer’s knot and even had the chance to fly some of the birds between the pupils.
That afternoon it was time for me to change out of my wellies and into some walking boots. The D of E had their timing trails at the estate to see what sort of area they will manage to cover during their expedition.