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Orkney senior phase youngsters who are preparing for SQA exams and final assessments are set to benefit from additional funding being made available by Orkney Islands Council.

COVID disruption has meant that this year’s SQA exam diet is the first to go ahead in three years - so Orkney youngsters in S4, 5 and 6 will be sitting exams for the first time.

Additional funds will be used to improve equity and access to study support, with Mainland secondaries and isles Junior High Schools offering a range of strategies.

Orkney Harbours are delighted to have played a small part in the tremendous fundraising effort by the Stena Spey and Stena Don crews and the Stena Drilling team in raising a magnificent £10,000 for a local charity.

The crews have been based in Scapa over the past months, including over the festive period, so to raise their spirits they raised money through raffles, competitions, and onboard events.

The teams discussed which charities they would like to share this money with and chose those close to their hearts, one of which was NHS Orkney’s Hospital Adventures. A truly phenomenal donation of £8,000 was to be presented from the crews, then an incredible further donation was made by the Stena Drilling team taking the total to an enchanting £10,000!

The COVID infection rate in Orkney is now the highest in the UK.

Data shows 2,290 cases per 100,000 in the county – considerably higher than our island counterparts of Shetland (1,216) and the Western Isles (1,815) and the national average (1,000).

The widespread community transmission is putting a strain on a number of Council-run services – most notably schools, nurseries, health and care settings but also in areas of sport and leisure and quarries.

A robot capable of spraying foam insulation under floors will be trialled in Orkney on selected homes this month, following a successful funding bid by Orkney Islands Council to undertake it as a special project with the local Warmworks team.

For International Women's Day, we've gathered a few thoughts from Orkney's Lord Lieutenant Elaine Grieve - the first woman in the role in Orkney - and her recently appointed Vice Lord Lieutenant, Dr Sarah Scarth.

Folk in Orkney are thinking out of the box when it comes to helping others in Ukraine.

Jo Sutherland from Just Dance is holding a quiz night at the Sands Hotel, Burray on Saturday 19 March from 7.30pm. Costing £5 a player, with teams of up to six, you are asked to please book in advance by sending Jo a message via Facebook. There will be homebakes, snacks and a raffle – any donations would be very welcome.

Funds raised will be shared between the Ukraine appeal and the Just Dance London trip.

COVID-related staffing pressures across many of Orkney’s schools and nurseries is continuing to impact on classes and early learning groups.

On Monday, 62 members of staff and 221 young people and children were absent, largely due to being positive themselves or because they are the main carer of a child with a positive result.

The high community transmission rate – Orkney recently recorded 1,000 COVID cases in just two weeks – is likely to have an effect on school kitchens now too.

Like many others Westray’s Nicki Hellewell has found watching the news footage on the war in Ukraine horrendous.

As a crafter, she felt compelled to do something.

From today, Tuesday, there will be a selection of flags, hearts and flower pins in Rendall’s shop. All she asks is that if you take one away with you, you make a donation and all proceeds will go to the DEC – Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Appeal.

Historically, teaching is a highly gendered profession.

In primary schools, teachers are overwhelmingly female, and yet their male counterparts are almost twice as likely to hold leadership positions in secondary schools.

Is Orkney bucking the trend to some degree, with both Orkney’s Mainland secondary schools headed up by women?

Final works are well underway to allow three community groups to take up residence in the former Herring Factory in Stromness.