16 June 2026
- Positive inspection report
- SWEAG future
- Coastguard concern
- Hyperbaric centre donation
- New mileage tax relief
THE BALTASOUND Junior High School in Unst has received a number of ‘good’ and ‘very good’ grades from inspectors following a visit in April.
A number of strengths were identified, including the leadership of the headteacher, a highly inclusive and nurturing environment and staff’s effective relationships with each other and children.
Children and young people were said to be articulate and confident individuals who are supported well to develop these skills, and are proud of their school and community.
Areas of improvement included staff continuing to develop high quality and consistent approaches to learning and teaching.
Headteacher Paul Thomson said: “The Inspection report acknowledges the fantastic whole team effort that goes into supporting and developing Unst’s young people; pupils, staff, parents, partners and the wider community demonstrating everything we do is geared towards getting the best possible outcomes for our bairns.
“A very positive report that everyone should be proud of.”
THE FUTURE expansion of the role of SWEAG – the Shetland Windfarm Environmental Advisory Group – to other energy developments beyond Viking is actively being discussed with Shetland Islands Council.
This so that lessons learned from the 103-turbine development can inform future schemes.
A key aim of SWEAG is to ensure that the environmental impacts of Viking were minimised, and that all agreed restorative procedures are implemented.
Speaking after a SWEAG meeting earlier this month, a spokesperson also said: “Water quality in two burns that are still monitored, due to earlier evidence suggesting that there are some water quality issues, now generally meet good environmental standards for water chemistry, but the ecology is yet to show improvement.
“A small treatment system on one burn is removing contaminants and there is good progress being made.”
SHETLAND MSP Hannah Mary Goodlad has expressed her “strong concern” over planned changes to payments to coastguard rescue volunteers.
It emerged recently that the UK Government-funded Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is to remove an ability for coastguard rescue volunteers to claim around £11 per hour for callouts and attending training exercises.
Commenting after meeting coastguard officers in Lerwick on Monday, Goodlad said: “This is another example of a decision taken 600 miles away in London that doesn’t make sense for Scotland – especially in our island communities, which have extreme geographies and dangerous coastlines.”
She added that coastguard services are a “vital part of the emergency lifesaving tool kit we have here in Shetland and often, alongside the RNLI, are who we rely on to save lives at sea”.
“To rush through the removal of remuneration and workers’ rights from those saving lives in our community is deeply irresponsible, and the potential for harm is great.
“I am calling on the UK Government to pause this decision to ensure that representation from all parties can get around the table to discuss solutions openly.”
SCOTTISH Sea Farms, the isles’ largest salmon farming company, has donated £750 towards the restoration of the Shetland Hyperbaric Centre in Lerwick.
Work is ongoing to help bring hyperbaric oxygen therapy back to the islands after almost 20 years.
The facility is expected to reopen this summer and will provide treatment for a range of conditions, including long Covid, chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple sclerosis.
FOLK using their own cars for work are being urged to check whether they are missing out on higher mileage tax relief following an increase in HM Revenue & Customs’ approved rates to 55p per mile for business travel.
While the uplift has been in effect since 6 April for the current tax year, many workers may not realise they need to actively submit a claim in order to benefit from it.
If an employer pays less than the approved mileage rate, workers may be able to claim tax relief on the difference directly from HMRC.
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