The Glasgow Academy delivers first privately backed fund in Scottish education
An innovation fund, established to support teachers develop new tools and resources, has launched in Scotland.
Set up by The Glasgow Academy, the ‘PINEAPPLE’ Fund, is being made available to all teachers across the country, no matter what school they work in, with the aim of encouraging innovation in education.
PINEAPPLE is the first privately backed innovation fund in Scottish education and, through the initiative, any teacher in Scotland will be able to apply for funding to help get projects off the ground. Its launch comes at a crucial time for Scotland’s education sector and supports the findings of a recent report from ScotlandCan and the Social Market Foundation, which argued that an innovation fund should be created in order to end the sector’s ‘risk-averse’ educational culture.[1]
PINEAPPLE, which is an acronym for Partnering INnovativE Approaches to LEarning, has been designed to accept a wide range of submissions, from the development of a new app to commissioning research into a specific teaching approach. The one stipulation is that applicants must demonstrate how their idea will make a positive contribution to Scottish education.
As well as delivering funding, The Glasgow Academy will provide strategic support, offering guidance and access to the school’s established network and contacts.
Matthew Pearce, Rector of The Glasgow Academy, said: “The world of education is changing. The past year may have been incredibly challenging but it has also created an opportunity to develop new ways of working and shape the landscape of Scottish education for the better.
“Schools and teachers are innovating all the time, and PINEAPPLE has created the infrastructure to make these ideas a reality. Our purpose is simple; we want to make Scotland’s education sector better, by supporting the development of good ideas and by ensuring that innovation is not lost or discouraged. As a partner in the project, we hope we can uncover and develop revolutionary new practices which will improve learning and education in schools across the country.
“We want to hear from any teacher or educational professional who has an idea for improving or transforming the way we interact with young people in a school setting. It can be something as simple as designing new posters for the classroom to setting up a programme that gets parents and carers more engaged in learning. All ideas will be thoroughly considered and, if successful, we will work closely with the teachers to make their vision a reality.”
For more information or to submit an application for funding, teachers should visit www.theglasgowacademy.org.uk/pineapple.
