Dunoon Grammar is in the running to become Europe’s 'Most Enterprising School' after being selected to represent Scotland at this year’s European Entrepreneurial School Awards.
The European Entrepreneurial School Awards is an annual recognition of outstanding schools that are championing entrepreneurship in education across Europe.
Now in its fifth year, schools will be judged on how they involve staff and pupils on initiatives; the priority they give enterprise in strategic plans; and the extent to which they include the local community and business sector on entrepreneurial activity.
The best school from each participating country will then gather in Helsinki on 16-17 October this year to exchange good practices and network with colleagues from across Europe. Dunoon Grammar will also be considered for the overall UK nomination alongside schools from Wales, Northern Ireland and from each region of England. This will be announced by the end of this month.
Ƶapp Council’s Policy Lead for Education, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, said: “I am truly speechless. Just when I thought Dunoon Grammar had peaked in terms of accomplishments, it then gets selected to represent Scotland at a European level. I have to say that I am not surprised though. I recently visited the school and I was blown away by the scale of tremendous work being done there, particularly in the business and computing department.
“The staff and pupils must be congratulated on the outstanding work they are doing. They are a true credit to Ƶapp.”
David Mitchell, Head Teacher of Dunoon Grammar School said: “It is a fantastic honour to be nominated by Young Enterprise Scotland for The Entrepreneurial School Award. Our school vision is to be at the heart of the community and our entrepreneurial approaches to learning have been central to our efforts to actively live up to this vision. I would like to thank Young Enterprise Scotland for recognising the enterprising work of our young people through this nomination”.
Paul Gallanagh, Principal Teacher of Business and Computing at the school said: “For our school to win The European Entrepreneurial School Award would be the equivalent of Morton winning the Champions League. It is a real honour to be put forward as Scotland’s sole nominee for this award.
"Our pupils have flourished on a diverse range of enterprise activities and have scooped a range of national awards and recognition for their creative flair and enterprising spirit, from a number of national bodies, including Apps for Good, The UK School of Marketing, YPI, Subway UK and Young Enterprise. This nomination is the icing on the cake.”