The Seventh SCEN summit was held in Perth Concert Hall on Friday 9 November 2018, taking as its title “Scotland:China – Our Future”.

Around 350 delegates attended the Summit representing schools from most parts of Scotland.

For the first time the Summit was chaired by young people themselves – the Chair of the SCEN Youth Committee, Lewis Hanley, (Lasswade High School) ,supported by his depute, Chemara Jones (Leith Academy) and Maia Hollins-Kirk (Lasswade High School). They all paid tribute to Judith McClure who had chaired all previous Youth Summits and who had retired as Chair of SCEN in the summer of 2018.

Schools taking part at the event were St Ninian’s High School, Giffnock, Merchiston Castle School , Edinburgh, St George’s School for Girls, Edinburgh, Jordanhill School, Glasgow, Mearns Castle High School, Newton Mearns, Lasswade High School, Glenalmond College, St Thomas of Aquin’s, Grangemouth High School , Fettes College and Kinross High School.

In addition Nigel Fong of the Hong Kong Scotland Education Partnership introduced presentations from schools in Hong Kong: Wall Street English. ELCHK Luthern, Yan Chai Hopital Wong Wha Sa, Yan Chai Hosptial No 2, Yan Chai Hospital Law Chan Chor Si College and Evangel College along with partner school in Scotland, High School, Glasgow.

Archie McGlynn of the Hong Kong Scotland School Improvement Parnership introduced Hong Kong Schools – Yaumati Catholic Primary, Yuen Yuen No. 1 Secondary, Law Ting Pong Secondary and Kwok Yat Wai College with partner Scottish schools – Preston Street primary, Edinburgh, Boroughmuir High School, James Gillespie’s High School and  Royal High School.

Preston Lodge High School  provided the bagpipers who opened the two sessions of the conference.

Speakers at the event were Rodger Hill, Head of Education, Perth and Kinross, Mr Sun Xudong, Vice Consul General PRC, Olivia Contini, SCEN Youth Committee, Rio Tu ,Baillie Gifford and  Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, President of SCEN.

Speaking after the event, the Chair of the event, Lewis Hanley a sixth year student in Lasswade High School said “ I enjoyed being one of  the hosts for the Youth Summit as I know it was a great opportunity for me and the team to spread the message of youth involvement in SCEN along with discussing the many opportunities available for young people interested in Chinese culture and language. I feel the day went well with the many performances and presentations that displayed to all delegates what SCEN affiliated schools have learned and participated in. I hope that all of those that were there this year enjoyed the day and felt it had a worthwhile impact on the way they think about engaging further with China.”

Another feature of the Summit this year was the presence of a professional Opera troop from Wuhan currently visiting Scotland. The Xinzhou Troop   performed a Chinese version of the final scene of Shakespeare’s Richard lll - in Mandarin - with full orchestra accompaniment and acrobatics.

Maia Hollins-Kirk, also from Lasswade High, helped co-chair the Summit. She commented “The brilliant performances were all equally fascinating and entertaining. The day was such a huge success thanks to the enthused audience and presenters. The momentum to join the SCEN Youth Committee is there and I’m looking forward to seeing more people at the next Committee meeting! (30 November)”.

The photo gallery from this event can be found here.