Covid-19 crisis fund supporting Dunbar Grammar School

Every year pupils at Dunbar Grammar School undertake field study trips to educational centres, as part of their education.

Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, those studying for the National 5 Environmental and the Advanced Higher Biology courses have been unable to attend these elements of learning.

Teachers thought they would have to use video and paper-based activities, and not provide students with important hands-on experience, that a field study trip brings.

However, a solution was devised that would see the field study trip replicated locally. It was then that the school faced a final barrier – costs.

The field studies centre owns and provides the equipment for visiting to students use, meaning the school had to find £750 to purchase the essential kit for a local field study trip.

With budgets stretched, the school turned to Community Windpower and BeGreen’s joint Covid-19 crisis fund for help and its grant application for £750 was quickly approved.

The funding will now enable Dunbar Grammar School to purchase a range of equipment to enable the students to carry out the work they could have missed out on, through no fault of their own.

It includes a trail camera, sweep nets, insect observation pots and a mammal footprint tunnel, all vital to enable the children to fully experience a field study trip locally, while adhering to the Scottish Government’s Covid-19 School Guidelines, and not miss out on a key element of their learning.

This is the second time Dunbar Grammar School has utilised Community Windpower and BeGreen’s joint Covid-19 crisis fund, after a grant application for £3,938 was provided to purchase outdoor seating units.

The units have been helping pupils and teachers utilise outdoor space for both an extra classroom and a place to spend breaks and lunch.

Diane Wood, community benefits director at Community Windpower, which operates the Aikengall Community Wind Farms in East Lothian, said: “Dunbar Grammar School is a fantastic asset for the local community, and we have a great relationship with the school.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has led to many changes for both teachers and students, so when this request came in to help support important field study work, we didn’t hesitate to approve the application.

“Just as the outdoor seating units have provided additional space for the pupils to learn and relax in, the funding for local field study will help students get out in the great outdoors and not let Covid-19 impact their learning experience.

“We hope both students and teachers alike, enjoy the field trips and the equipment can help more pupils in the future.”

Back to News