11 Sep 2008: Visit 12/12 - Blackrock College

Principal of the college is a visionary leader. He is well connected with his staff and students and has set a good school tone base on trust and collegiality.

10 Sep 2008: Visit 11/12 - Leargas

Leargas is Ireland's National Agency for the management of transnational programmes. Their key programmes include WorldWise, eTwinning and in-service training for teachers.

10 Sep 2008: Visit 10/12 - St Andrew's College

St Andrew's College is a highly multicultural school. Some 30% of their students are from 50 nationalities.

Their students participate annually in the Model UN conference and gain significant educational experiences.

9 Sep 2008: Visit 9/12 - St Columb's College

St Columb's College was founded in 1879. Currently, it is a Grammar School which attracts more-aspiring students capable of doing well in academic examinations. 90% of their students did well in the A-level Exam to qualify for university admission. ICT is their key driver underpinning all their development projects in school including Virtual Learning Education (VLE).

On Friday, 12 Sep 2008, the school will be assessed by an EV Team for the Whole School ICT Award. We wish them "All the Best" in qualifying for this significant award.

8 Sep 2008: Visit to British Council, Northern Ireland

After our flight from Edinburgh to Belfast we visited the British Council (BC), North Ireland at Norwich Union House. Ms Mary McGeown, the Head of Education Programmes at BC, briefed us on the Purpose of BC in Northern Ireland (NI), their Education Partners and the NI Education Context (both local & global). She informed us that funding available through BC could be used for regional projects and study visits for headteachers and teachers in NI schools to educational institutions in any country. Schools in Singapore could arrange for such mutual visits & sharing.

5 Sep 08 - Outdoor Learning @ Greenhall Resource Centre

We were introduced to the Outdoor Learning Programme at the Greenhall Resource Centre, Gowkshill by CCAB officer, Ms Cindy Ng, who is doing her postgrad studies in outdoor learning at the Uni of Edinburgh. The aim of the outdoor learning programme is to give youngsters the opportunity to learn about themselves and others, be skilled, safe and active in the outdoors, and to protect and care for the environment. A key feature of the programme is Making Connections where pupils relate their outdoor learning experiences to classroom teaching and learning. 6 high schools and 30 primary schools in the Midlothian council are partnering the Greenhall Outdoor Learning programme to provide such learning experience for their pupils.

Sep 4 Jordanhill School Visit

Jordanhill School educate children from age 5-18(P1-S6). The school regularly tops the list of academic performance for state schools in Scotland.