General

On Thursday, we had nearly 90 pupils from S3 attend the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre for a history trip. Our S3 history classes have been studying the Battle of Culloden, so this trip was designed to support their learning. They were involved in four workshops which included; a tour around the museum where they had to perform some dangerous medical treatments, a source activity where they had to identify some items that have been found on the battlefield, a tour of the grounds of the battlefield where they had to march in line, and an acting workshop where they were allowed to dress up as Government/Jacobite soldiers or civilians that were involved.

We would like to thank all our pupils for being fantastic representatives of Culloden Academy, and the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre for delivering such engaging and interesting sessions for our pupils.

This morning our DYW coordinator hosted mock interviews, offered to all S4 students. The event was designed to support our S4 students with gaining valuable interview skills and techniques. Work has been ongoing in PSE classes in preparation, encouraging and increasing knowledge and confidence. The session was designed to build upon those skills, allowing the students to practice and receive feedback.

Many thanks to the employers who took the time out of their schedules to attend:

• DM Hall
• Global Highland
• Scottish Ambulance Service
• UHI
• West Fraser
• Kingsmills Hotel
• Macleod & MacCallum
• R I Crudens
• Highlife Highland

This morning was our third instalment of the My Future Friday sessions here at Culloden Academy. We had Laura from Nigg Skills Academy who discussed training opportunities and pathways into engineering, oil and gas, renewables and construction through a programme delivered in partnership with UHI North Highland.

We were fortunate to have the opportunity to take part in negotiations, votes and talks about Climate Change and different countries’ ambitions to fight climate change at the Mock COP28. Emily Ross, Oliver Kinsella, Ella Paterson, Riley Macleod Taylor, Sophie Lambert, Isla Macrae and Skye Searles had a great time developing their knowledge of different countries taking part in the event. Representing The People’s Republic of China was no easy task, but we successfully negotiated with Greenpeace, AOSIS and Brazil about Climate Change in three rounds. It was a great day and all students would highly recommend getting involved next year!

On Wednesday morning our DYW School Coordinator hosted a Careers Speed Dating event for our S3 students. We had fantastic attendance, and great feedback from both employers and our students.

Huge thank you to all the employers who took time out of their busy schedules to attend.

Highlife Highland; Macleod & Macallum; British Army; West Fraser; ScotSafe; Barnardos; Marriott; UHI Nursing; RAF; UHI Optometry; UHI Forestry & Construction; Kier Construction; SGL Carbon; SSE Renewables; Scottish Ambulance; LifeScan

This week we had a representative from the CNC Police. Lots of pupils in attendance. Next week we have Nigg Skills Academy.

The Higher Accounts class received an engaging and informative presentation today from visiting speakers Andrew, Laura and Matthew of Johnston Carmichael. Pupils were very enthusiastic learning about the life of an accountant and pathways and careers in the industry. Huge thanks to the team for their time, we loved having you all!

‘My Future Friday’ started this week with Barratt Homes Construction in to speak with our pupils about how to pursue a career in the construction industry.  A great turn out and plenty information for our pupils. Thanks to DYW ICH for organising and to Barratt Homes for taking the time to come in to Culloden Academy.

We encourage all pupils to take part in our extensive range of extra-curricular activities. Please see the link for the most up-to-date timetable.

A massive Culloden Academy thank you to our former pupils Catriona Chambers and Dougie Brown who gave up their valuable time to speak to our S6 year group today.

Catriona has spent the majority of her career at SpaceX. Following her degrees in Engineering at Oxford and Princeton Universities, Catriona joined the small SpaceX avionics team in 2005 and stayed with the company until 2021. Catriona has held technical and leadership roles and was responsible for major architectural designs and decisions on the rockets and space capsules. Catriona’s latest project at SpaceX was Director of Starship Avionics which saw multiple rocket launches and landings of the new prototype vehicle. Catriona explained how SpaceX has been able to change the space industry in such a short time through their innovative design and willingness to make and learn from their mistakes. Catriona is currently part of Alpine Space Ventures.

Dougie is Event Producer for Belladrum Tartan Heart Music Festival. Dougie started a Music and Technology course at Leeds Met University but quickly realised this wasn’t for him. After gaining valuable work and gigging experience he completed a Community Arts Degree at Strathclyde University. He has held several prominent roles in the most important music events around Scotland including the following: Rock Ness; Wickerman; Loopallu; Groove; The Gathering and Go North. Like many others Dougie is saddened by the loss of The Ironworks which he helped to develop for over ten years. Dougie is Director for Into The Light Management Ltd. and has managed both Tamzene and now Katie Gregson-MacLeod https://www.katie-gregson-macleod.com/

Congratulations on your success Catriona and Dougie.