Thousands of school children get taste for Glasgow 850 celebrations

Glasgow children are getting behind their city’s 850th birthday celebrations as a week-long Glasgow 850 Schools' Festival gets underway at primary schools across the city.

Article Source: Glasgow 850
Last Updated: 29 April 2025 13:01

Image: Pupils from Tinto Primary School. Credit: Martin Shields.

Every primary pupil in Glasgow is set to receive a collection of souvenir Glasgow 850 badges and a special Glasgow 850 themed school lunch will be served up, all to honour the city’s famous coat of arms and commemorate 850 years since Glasgow became a Burgh of the Barony in 1175.

As part of the primary school’s festival, a special 850 menu taking inspiration from the city’s coat of arms: the bell, fish, tree and bird, will be available to try. The menu will feature roast chicken and halal roast chicken to represent the bird that never flew, breaded fish for the fish that never swam, stuffed bell peppers for the bell that never rang, and steamed broccoli to illustrate the tree that never grew, as a fun way to engage children in the story of St Mungo and Glasgow’s origins.

This week specially designed pink birthday badges adorned with icons from the city’s Coat of Arms, alongside other symbols that represent Glasgow themes, landmarks and institutions, will also be handed out to more than 40,000 primary school children.

The badges have ten different designs which symbolise the city’s achievements and sources of pride including the Barrowland Star, the Finnieston Crane and the Duke of Wellington’s cone, with a Glaschu version for Gaelic school pupils.

The Schools’ Festival is one part of a wider, extensive programme of engagement across nurseries, primary and secondary schools that has been planned throughout the year, to inspire the city’s young people to think about Glasgow’s past, present and future and the role they can play in this over the next 50 years.

Children will receive access to their own Glasgow 850 digital keepsake learning booklet, which updates each month with interactive activities and lessons inspired by the city’s rich heritage and inspiring potential, while live lessons will bring teachers and pupil citywide together to explore the milestone together.

There will be representation of Glasgow 850 across the annual Physical Education Physical Activity and School of Sport (PEPASS) programme of events, showcasing future Glasgow sporting talent and keeping the city’s young people active. The Young Ambassadors Conference in August will see 250 young people come together to celebrate and learn new skills in sporting leadership.

Glasgow CREATE (Creativity and Expressive Arts Transforming Education) is also inviting all primary schools to participate in an extraordinary project to record a special Glasgow 850 song titled It’s Our Home, Glasgow. This ambitious citywide celebration will bring together 142 primaries in Glasgow in a shared expression of pride, culture and unity, with teaching videos, lyrics and audio backing track packs to guide teachers and pupils through learning the song.

The breadth of opportunities will ensure all children regardless of their interests and passions will find a way to connect with the Glasgow 850 celebrations.

Councillor Christina Cannon, City Convener for Education & Early Years said: “Our children and young people are the future of Glasgow, and the 850 Education Programme is an opportunity to engage and inspire the next generation and celebrate this landmark year with our youngest citizens. From a themed menu to bespoke interactive lessons, we are giving pupils the chance to engage with the history of our vibrant city and think about the possibilities for its future, sparking creativity, curiosity and civic pride. Parent councils are also leading the way, bringing creative Glasgow 850 twists to school events and inspiring school communities to share in the celebrations. Glasgow’s 850th birthday is a milestone that belongs to everyone, and we hope to see families and pupils alike embrace the birthday celebrations. I know that our children will be wearing their commemorative badges with pride and holding onto them for many years to come.”

Everyone has the opportunity to get involved in Glasgow’s 850th birthday celebrations. For more information visit glasgow850.com

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