You may be aware that Project Trust, a widely respected educational charity, that sends about 250 gap-year volunteers to 23 countries annually, is coming to Broughton to speak to S5 and S6 students on Wednesday, 12th June. Some S6 students will be involved in Buddying training then, and will not be on hand to hear. For them, and for anyone else who wants to learn more about this remarkable enterprise, there is an Open Afternoon, on Saturday 29th June, at the Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2JL, from 1 to 3 p.m. This is an opportunity to drop in, with parents and friends, and learn more about about an exciting way to live and grow with our friends overseas.

Monday 15 October, 7.30pm
Traverse Bar Cafe

You may recall that Broughton acting alum Steve McMahon has been offered the chance to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts next year. This prestigious New York School is home to alumni Robert Redford, Kim Cattrall and Kirk Douglas. Steve is a former member of the Lyceum Youth Theatre and has performed on the Traverse stage, in Strangetown’s Chow Mein. and as part of A Play, A Pie and A Pint. New York represents an enormous opportunity for Steve.

How can we help get him there? Steve is hosting an evening of music and readings in the Traverse Bar Cafe, followed by the start of Traverse Sessions, the music night he organises. This evening of fundraising will consist of 6 short plays and music by top Scottish artists, including the creative team behind Traverse Theate Company hit Midsummer, David Greig and Gordon McIntyre.

See Steve’s Youtube clip about his American adventure here.

This interesting note just came to us from UCAS, the body that manages all the country’s university applications.

‘Have you seen the blogs on UCAS Connect before? Many of them are UCAS applicants writing about their experience of the application process, with lots of handy advice for other students. They’ve been really popular and reassuring for thousands of applicants.

We’re now looking for a parent blogger to join them.

As our parent blogger we’ll ask you to share your journey through the year – from the UCAS application and waiting for offers with your child, through to receiving their results. It’s a great way to help other parents going through the same experience, plus any hints and tips you can give will be really valuable.

All you have to do is submit at least one blog a month but, the more you can think of to blog about the better!

Interested? To get involved send an example blog of up to 200 words by 5 October to ucasonline@ucas.ac.uk’

If you’ve got an S5 this Autumn, you might alert them to the ‘Brightest Watts Summer Week’, 23-27 July, 10.00-16.00. Details here.

Want to channel talent into the teaching profession? Let 6th-years give it a go, says a Commons Education Select Committee in a report this month called ‘Great Teachers’. This would give ambitious school leavers a chance to see what it’s like at the front of a class, help them anticipate how best to apply to training progammes, and encourage them to think how they could bring their own skills and knowledge into future classrooms in new ways. Schools Minister Nick Gibb laments how many top grads choose careers besides teaching. This might be a way to change that.

Read more about this exciting idea here.