We are delighted with that our next door neighbour, Baljaffray Primary School, has won the 2010 Stevenson Prize from the Church of Scotland which recognises excellence in religious education.  The entry for the Prize was based on the Easter Art Project, in which the children in each class produced a piece of art illustrating and expressing one of the gospel stories on the theme “Why Easter?”  Many Congratulations to the pupils and staff of Baljaffray Primary School and many thanks to all volunteers from the church who helped to make this project so much fun!

Stevenson Prize Entry 2010 - PDF download

More on the Stevenson Prize.......

Baljaffray Primary School has been awarded the Stevenson Prize for Excellence in Religious Observance by the Church of Scotland.  The Moderator of the General Assembly, the Right Reverend John Christie presented a certificate and a cheque for £500 to two pupils from the school, Nicola(P7) and Lucy(P1).  They were accompanied on the trip to Edinburgh by Melanie(P2), Luke(P3), Fiona(P4), Cameron(P5) and Heather(P6), and by Head Teacher, Mrs Lynn Bale, Depute Head Teacher, Mrs Elaine Paterson and Chaplain, Rev Ian McEwan and Joanna Love of Wild Goose Resources Group.  The Stevenson Prize is intended to recognise and promote best practice in the religious observance.  It is named in honour of the Rev Dr John Stevenson General Secretary of the Education committee from 1992 – 2000 and Fellow of the Educational Institute of Scotland.  The prize is awarded annually to one primary school and one secondary school in Scotland.  The award of the prize to Baljaffray Primary School was given for the Easter Art Project in which the school got together with helpers from Baljaffray Parish Church to work and think about the theme ‘Why Easter?’  Through the project, pupils were invited to use their creativity and imagination to think about why Jesus was put on the cross when he was so was so loving and good.  Mrs Bale, the Head Teacher of Baljaffray Primary School said “The award of this prize is a testimony to the enthusiasm and hard work of the pupils, staff and helpers from the church. It shows what can be done when the school, church and community work together in this way.”  In a speech, before the presentation Patricia Watson, HM Inspectorate of Education Specialist for Religious and Moral Education, praised the project for the way it encouraged the pupils to really think through the gospel stories about Jesus and what they mean in today’s world and for the holistic way the project brought the whole community together.