Highland secondary pupils can study Photography at Higher via distance learning with Mr Noble as your main teacher, and myself as principal teacher, solely through Highland Schools' Virtual Academy. Mr Noble is an experienced teacher with a significant amount of experience as a practising artist and photographer, here and in China. He recently received the RSA Latimer Award at the Royal Scottish Academy's 195th Annual Exhibition for his artwork, "Meditation on the Mountain Pass"

If you arrived here looking for information about Highland Council's Highland Virtual Academy their internal site for schools is here where you will find application forms and a timetable for the subjects on offer. Your first point of contact should be guidance in your school or Laura Gordon, headteacher of the Highland Virtual Academy.

Higher Photography is generally taught via live video lessons twice per week with theory and practical activities for the remainder, plus plenty of homework (you don't always want to photograph the school buildings!). Once the final portfolio is underway a rotation of small group live video tutorials provides ongoing support and feedback during the remaining timetabled periods.

Any decent digital camera will do, from a DSLR, to a bridge camera, to a compact, to a very good camera phone. It all depends on what a student wants to shoot, for example an iPhone might not produce great landscape shots, but might be OK for more close up work or portraits.

• It is easier to try out the techniques we teach on a device that easily allows manual control of settings. Devices that don't let you alter settings would put you at a disadvantage.

• Pupils study theory through an introductory NPA N5 level research unit "Understanding Photography". They undertake summer projects to get 'warmed up' in June and over the summer break.
• In August we start unit 1, Image Making, where pupils explore the theme of Light and Time, through research into photographers and via a practical folio of 6 main shoots.
• In October we start unit 2, Contextual Imagery, where pupils produce a small folio in different genres and styles of photography, focussing on the theme "My World".
• Pupils start work on their final folio, on a theme of their choice, from December, due in April, where the skills from earlier units are used to create 12 shoots, inspired by research into photographers.
• In each folio, pupils develop their self-evaluative skills by annotating their contact sheets and reflecting on the success of each shoot. Throughout the course, there are theory/critical video lessons, preparing pupils for the short written paper that is worth 10% of their grade.

I have taught N5, Higher, and Advanced Higher Latin and Classical Studies. My pupils have also achieved Classical Greek units. Candidates with good skills and experience in Photography can be supported with Advanced Higher Art & Design with photography as the medium. Pupils undertaking Duke of Edinburgh Awards can develop their knowledge of photography as their Skill and also gain SQA units along the way.

I am Principal Teacher of Art & Design, Computing Science and Classics at Grantown Grammar School, Highland and a Distance Learning Tutor for pupils across the region. I am GTCS registered to teach Art & Design/Photography, Philosophy, Latin, Greek, Classical Studies and Computing Science.

I achieved the Standard for Headship in 2015 and have presented on inter-disciplinary learning, profiling, e-portfolios and sustainable development education at national and regional CPD events, including writing case studies for the NAR. I have been a finalist at the Scottish Education Awards twice, as an individual and as a team leader.

Qualifications & Experience : MA (Hons) History of Art (incorporating Fine Art and Classical Studies), PGCE (Secondary) Art & Design, PGDip Leadership in Professional Contexts, UG studies in Classical & Koine Greek, UG/PG studies in Latin, PG studies in Sustainable Development Education. BSc Computing Science in progress.

And for those who have been asking - that's me Photoshopped into a bust of Pericles!