Chamber and committees

That the Parliament notes with deep regret what it sees as the failure of the Scottish and UK governments to prevent the closure of Grangemouth oil refinery by Petorineos, resulting, it understands, in the loss of up to 430 jobs; believes that the refinery has a critical role in Scotland's industrial base, contributing significantly to national GDP and accounting for two-thirds of refined oil products in Scotland; expresses alarm at the reported implications for national security and energy resilience; urges the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government, Petroineos and other relevant stakeholders, to speed up the delivery of the nine projects identified in the Project Willow report; calls for a detailed plan regarding the release of the £25 million just transition fund for Grangemouth and how this will protect workers and communities, and commits to holding both governments accountable for delivering a sustainable industrial future for Grangemouth that safeguards jobs, energy security and Scotland’s economic interests.

That the Parliament recognises the efforts of Trash Free Trails in organising a community trail clean along the Helensburgh to Arden cycle path; acknowledges the organisation’s mission to reconnect people with nature by removing single-use pollution from wild spaces; commends the volunteers involved in this initiative for their dedication to environmental stewardship; notes the ambitious goal of clearing 75% of litter from trails across the UK by 2025; encourages local communities to participate in such clean-up efforts to promote sustainability and protect Scotland’s natural landscapes, and wishes them long-term success in supporting grassroots environmental initiatives that foster community engagement and ecological responsibility.

That the Parliament commends Boclair Academy on being named seventh in the top 10 high schools in The Sunday Times 2025 League Table for Scotland; believes that the school is well known for its strong academic record and modern facilities; understands that the school moved to a purpose-built building in 2022 at a cost of £40 million, fostering a strong sense of community and inclusivity; acknowledges the school's emphasis on sports, with a new grass pitch, a 1km fitness track suitable for running, walking and cycling, and 12 bike shelters to encourage active travel, and wishes the staff and pupils every success for the future.

That the Parliament commends Douglas Academy on being named in the top five high schools in The Sunday Times 2025 League Table for Scotland; believes that the school has a strong academic record and an emphasis on extracurricular activities, opportunities in sports, music, drama and volunteering; acknowledges the school’s good reputation for supporting its students both academically and socially, and wishes the staff and pupils every success for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Williamwood High School in Busby on receiving an outstanding inspection report from Education Scotland; understands that a team of inspectors visited Williamwood High in February and found that the school had a range of strengths including highly motivated and very well spoken pupils who have a resolute focus on achievement; further understands that the range of strengths highlighted by Education Scotland also includes the cultivation of a strong working relationship between the headteacher, senior leaders, staff and pupils to formulate a high-quality and well-structured framework of key principles in the areas of learning, teaching and assessment, a large number of different activities and programmes to support and develop the wider achievement of young people and exceptional levels of attainment by pupils; understands that Education Scotland has graded Williamwood High as "very good" on the quality indicators of learning, teaching and assessment and "excellent" for raising attainment and achievement; believes that Williamwood High School is the latest in a growing list of Eastwood schools and nurseries to experience a positive Education Scotland assessment in recent years with St Joseph's Primary, St Cadoc's Primary and Nursery, Kirkhill Primary, Braidbar Primary and Nursery Class and the Hazeldene Family Learning Centre all receiving impressive reports; commends Williamwood High for what it sees as the truly superb report that it has received, with Education Scotland describing the attainment of pupils as exceptional, and awarding the school the highest ranking of "excellent" on the quality indicator of raising attainment and achievement, and believes that it is viewed as sector-leading in this category.

That the Parliament recognises Shannon Wilson, Kelly Wilson and Chloe Wilson from Newmains on completing the Glasgow Kiltwalk, raising funds for Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS); understands that Shannon, Kelly and Chloe completed the Kiltwalk fundraising for CHAS in memory of their late sister, Laia, who sadly passed away after being diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, an aggressive form of childhood brain cancer; understands that Shannon, Kelly and Chloe raised over £4,000 for CHAS, which provides unwavering care to children who may die young, and their families, at every step on the hardest of journeys; commends Shannon, Kelly and Chloe for their fundraising efforts, and wishes them all the best for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Canal View Primary School, in the Edinburgh Pentlands constituency, on securing a Gold sportscotland School Sport Award; understands that the award is a national initiative funded by the National Lottery; notes that the Gold School Sport Award is in recognition of the school’s achievements in putting sport at the heart of its planning, practice and ethos; understands that securing the award highlights that the school has shown excellent practice across the core areas of the award and demonstrated an ongoing commitment to increase young people’s opportunities and engagement in physical education, school sport and leadership, providing clear pathways to lifelong participation in sport, and thanks all the staff and pupils at Canal View for their commitment in achieving this award.

That the Parliament congratulates Western Gailes Golf Club, in Irvine, on being ranked 18th in Scotland by the prestigious Top 100 Golf Courses; recognises the club’s historic significance, having been founded in 1897, and its reputation as one of the most authentic links courses in the country; notes its regular hosting of elite amateur and professional events, including the Scottish Open and Final Qualifying for The Open Championship; celebrates its scenic coastal setting and traditional layout, which has earned admiration from golfers worldwide; acknowledges what it sees as its role in promoting Ayrshire’s rich golfing heritage and enhancing Scotland’s global standing as the "Home of Golf", and commends Western Gailes for its contributions to local tourism and the economy.

That the Parliament commends Aberdeenshire Council’s adoption service for receiving an "excellent" rating in its most recent Care Inspectorate review; understands that the service’s performance was evaluated across key areas, such as the quality of care and support provided to children, young people, and their families, and that the service received the highest possible grade of "excellent" for its support of wellbeing and its high level of care; further understands that the report praised the service for its dedication to ensuring that children’s voices and experiences are at the heart of the adoption process; believes that the adoption service was commended for its proactive approach to maintaining lifelong relationships between adopted children and their birth families, particularly in supporting sibling connections, through a partnership with Barnardo’s "Staying Connected" project; understands that the role of a therapeutic transitions social worker was also recognised as pivotal in supporting children’s emotional wellbeing during transitions and beyond, and that the Care Inspectorate also noted that the service’s processes for assessing prospective adopters and matching them with children were evidence-based, child-centred, and thorough; congratulates the team that has worked to deliver this high standard of service, and wishes them all the best.

That the Parliament commends Lenzie Academy on being named 15th in The Sunday Times 2025 League Table of high schools in Scotland; believes that the school offers a broad curriculum and emphasises academic excellence, personal development, and extracurricular activities; understands that the school, which was established in 1886, is known for its strong community ties and partnerships with local primary school as well as its strong leadership, well-planned learning experiences, and positive relationships that contribute to high pupil motivation and attainment, and wishes the staff and pupils every success for the future.