Edinburgh schools link up with Hibernian

Pupils in Edinburgh are to get the opportunity to learn at Easter Road Stadium thanks to a Curriculum for Excellence based partnership between Hibernian Community Foundation and the City of Edinburgh Council.

The 'Hibernian Edinburgh Learning Initiative' will engage with Edinburgh schools to boost the learning and self-confidence of hundreds of children across the Capital. Learning opportunities staged at Easter Road Stadium will offer inspiring experiences for pupils, whilst being focussed on achieving educational outcomes based around Curriculum for Excellence.

The initiative will enable pupils to put their learning into real world settings.  For example, health and wellbeing can be related to fitness and the diet of athletes, numeracy learning will use football statistics and club financing and social subjects can study the history, development and community aspects of the football club.

Scott Lindsay, Hibernian FC Chief Executive, said: “We’re delighted to have launched the pilot projects in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council, teachers and their pupils. We’ve been working together towards this for goal for a couple of years now and it’s great to see the children around the stadium on a regular basis.

"There is a real educational objective behind the Learning Initiative and this is underpinned by use of the Hibernian Learning Centre which is within the Stadium. Hopefully after a successful pilot we will be able to expand the experience to thousands more children in the years ahead.”

City Education Leader Cllr Marilyne MacLaren said: "Edinburgh is at the forefront of driving Curriculum for Excellence and our schools and educationalists are constantly developing innovative and exciting ways of ensuring that pupils get the best possible learning experience.

"I'm delighted that the Hibernian Community Foundation have come on board with an initiative that I think can make a huge impact.  Hibs play a major role in the community and their positive influence as well as a clear understanding of the curriculum has the power to encourage and inspire young learners Edinburgh."

The pilot projects  currently involve Primary, Secondary and Special Schools in the City including: Drummond Community High, St Augustine’s High, Niddrie Mill/Newcraighall Primaries, Gilmerton Primary, Granton Primary, St Francis RC Primary and Prospect Bank special school.