If you are involved in a leadership or volunteering role the Saltire Award is an award scheme which can be completed through any volunteering organisation.

This will allow your volunteering efforts to be recognised and there are awards for 10, 25, 50, 100 and 200 hours. Students must create an account on the Saltire Scotland website, log their organisation and a recognised adult who must sign off their hours.

For more details or support getting set up on the Saltire system you should contact your PSAT teacher. 

In S4-S6 all students have the opportunity to be part of the Mock Trial team. This is an exciting opportunity to experience the different sides of a court trial and will help students to understand how the law touches every aspect of their lives, gaining an insight into how the legal justice system works. Schools are given access to resources, including specially written criminal cases, to help teams prepare legal arguments. After preparation, your team will take part in a regional heat and go head-to-head with other schools to prosecute and defend the cases. Winning teams will then compete in a National Final. This is an ideal opportunity for those students interested in or pursuing a career in the legal profession.

For more details or specific queries about this course, you should contact any member of the Humanities or Social Subjects Faculties. They can provide additional insights into the opportunity, expectations and resources available to students.

Mackie School Library is looking for Senior pupils to become Pupil Library Assistants and assist Miss Bruce with library duties either at lunchtimes, during study periods or after school.
They will help with the following tasks:

Shelving returned books
Giving reading recommendations to other pupils
Taking note of books issued to pupils
Developing displays and activities in the library
Any other tasks as identified by the School Librarian

For more details or specific queries about this course, you should contact Miss Bruce in the Library. They can provide additional insights into the opportunity, expectations and resources available to students.

The Mackie Librarian will run a Peer Reading Scheme for Senior pupils to be able to support and buddy individuals in the BGE with their reading.
As a senior pupil you will receive training from Miss Bruce to develop your peer reading skills for tutoring a younger buddy. This will allow you to think actively about the importance of reading, think about how books should be read aloud in different ways using pitch, tone, volume and rate, then hone your ability to perform an engaging reading of a book. Your next step will then be to use these skills by creating a questionnaire to find out more about your younger reading buddy, building sessions for reading aloud with them, and discussing questions and responses to your shared book. 

Evidence shows that Peer Reading Schemes in schools have many benefits, including:

Improved reading attainment and confidence

Increased understanding of words and texts

Improved attitudes to reading for pleasure

Development of interpersonal skills

A sense of responsibility and pride in being able to help a peer

Increased sense of belonging in the school community

For more details or specific queries about this course, you should contact Miss Bruce in the Library. They can provide additional insights into the opportunity, expectations and resources available to students.

This is an opportunity for students within the S5 Elective programme and for S6 students. Students can undertake work experience/ placements in an area or pathway that they wish to pursue after leaving school. 

These placements can be self initiated or students can be supported to find these through the work placement unit.

For more details or specific queries about this role, you should contact the PT DYW in the Positive Futures room on C Floor or your PSAT teacher. They can provide additional insights into the opportunity, expectations and resources available to students.

As a senior pupil you will have the opportunity to lead any club which takes place in Performing Arts.
This includes: Drum Club, Ukulele Group and any of the S4 – S6 Bands.

As part of this opportunity it is recommended that pupils log their hours towards achieving their next Saltire Award.

For more details or specific queries about this role, you should contact any member of the Performing Arts Faculty. They can provide additional insights into the opportunity, expectations and resources available to students.

Duke of Edinburgh is an opportunity to develop essential skills for life and work and is a recognised mark of achievement. Achieving a DofE Award isn’t a competition or about being first. It’s all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries. As part of Duke of Edinburgh students are required to complete three units in participation, skill and volunteering, on top of preparing for and completing an expedition. As part of this opportunity pupils are recommended to also log their volunteering hours towards achieving their next Saltire Award.

Please note Mackie Academy does not currently run DofE however, this opportunity would be facilitated through our partnerships with external community clubs. For more details or specific queries about this opportunity, you should contact your PSAT teacher. They can provide additional insights into the opportunity, expectations and resources available to students. Additionally, please see https://www.dofe.org/ 

The John Muir Award is an environmental award scheme focused on wild places suited for students in S4-S6. It encourages people of all backgrounds to connect with, enjoy, and care for wild places encouraging awareness and responsibility for the natural environment.

For more details or specific queries about this course, you should contact any member of the Humanities or Social Subjects Faculties. They can provide additional insights into the opportunity, expectations and resources available to students. Additionally, please see https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/john-muir-award