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Feedback from parents and carers of children who attended the Council’s 2022 Summer Holiday Programme is being sought.

The Scottish Government has invested funding in all local authorities for the targeted provision of summer holiday childcare, activities and food for low income families to help with the cost of living.

Nominations are being sought for educators who go the extra mile in their endeavour to embrace equality and diversity for the second annual GTCS Saroj Lal Award.

Orkney teacher Theo Ogbhemhe, from Kirkwall Grammar School, was named as the first-ever recipient of the annual award in 2021 in recognition of his outstanding work in challenging discrimination and promoting equality, making society a better place for everyone.

Notice is hereby given that Orkney Islands Council has made an order in terms of section 62 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to ensure the safety of the public and road users while filming takes place.

The order will be in operation from Monday 15 August, 2022 to Sunday 28 August, 2022.

The Scottish Government are delaying universal free school meals provision for P6 and P7 pupils.

Chair of the Council’s Education, Leisure and Housing Committee, Councillor Gwenda Shearer, said: “The further expansion of free school lunches during term-time to include children in P6 and 7 will not begin in August as had been intended which is disappointing particularly given we are in the midst of a cost of living crisis.

“I know that some families have already expressed dismay at this decision as they fall just outwith the eligibility criteria and will have to either pay £2.70 for a two-course school meal for primary pupils and £2.80 for secondary pupils or provide a packed lunch.

Orkney Islands Council has written to the Scottish Government to highlight the critical importance of planning permission being granted for its wind farm project on Faray - and the tight timescales involved. 

The proposed six-turbine wind farm is the final element of Orkney's Community Wind Farm Project- with planning permission having been granted for similar projects at Quanterness and Hoy in December last year.

The Scottish Government called in the Faray application in September 2021 but are yet to make a determination on the site - and with time running out for the project to count towards the Ofgem needs case for a new interconnector between Orkney and the Scottish Mainland, the Council has pressed for urgent action.

Pupils across Orkney are today (Tuesday 9 August) receiving their examination results from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

Students who signed up for the SQA’s text or email results service should have received their results between 08:00 and 09:00 today, with results on paper delivered by First Class post throughout the day.

Orkney Islands Council's Leader James Stockan has met with Scottish Government Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth this week (8 August) to press for progress on key transport issues for Orkney-  including the funding of the inter-island ferry service and the roll out of RET - road equivalent tariff - to ferry routes to Orkney.

Stagecoach is sponsoring the Orkney Agricultural Society by proving a free shuttle bus to and from the County Show, as part of a park and ride service from Orkney Auction Mart.

The free shuttle service is running throughout the day, starting with the first bus leaving the Mart at 8.30am. The last bus will leave the show at 5pm.

Stagecoach will be operating additional services on Dounby Show day - running: Kirkwall – Dounby; Dounby – Stromness; Stromness – Dounby; Dounby – Kirkwall.

The Stagecoach fleet offers low floor, easy access buses.

The thought of experiencing island life drew the Central Belt’s Rosalind Rendall to accept a teaching post at Westray Junior High School in 2009.

Despite only intending to stay for a couple of years, “Rozi” as she is known affectionately, met and married a local man and this will be her 14th academic year when the school returns after the summer holidays.

There are many reasons why Rozi has chosen to make Westray her home – and life at the school, which is the heart of the community – is one of them.