Trailblazers from a Highland primary will join in an online Commonwealth Games celebration with the first Canadian schools to get Game On Scotland awards.

Thanks to a virtual link up, Crown Primary School pupils in Inverness are able to swap experiences with three schools successfully being awarded Game On Scotland plaques in Toronto. They will take the total number of plaques awarded to over 100.

Crown Primary was the first worldwide to receive a Game On Scotland plaque, presented by Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games and Sport, Shona Robison, last November.

Game On Scotland is the official education programme for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, which sees schools undertake challenges inspired by the sporting spectacle.

Ms Robison is presenting the schools with plaques last week (Thursday) at Toronto's Ryerson University. The Cabinet Secretary is on an official visit to Canada this week, co-inciding with the Queen’s Baton Relay being in the country.

The awards and live link up come during a British Council-organised Commonwealth Sports Day in Toronto, a stopping point of the Queen’s Baton Relay. They are part of Commonwealth Class, a Supporting Legacy 2014 project, that is endorsed by Game On Scotland.

Inverness pupils and Canadian counterparts will be able to put questions to the Cabinet Secretary. The children can also interact with Canadian athletes who will be coming to Glasgow to compete this summer.

The Highlands are twinned with Canada as part of the Support a 2nd Team initiative.

Ms Robison said: “It is fantastic to see the Game On Scotland precedent that was set so ably by Crown Primary School, being followed up with these plaque awards in Toronto, among the first internationally.

“The Commonwealth Games is an inspirational springboard for learning activities around global citizenship, and encouraging young people to strive to be the very best they can be.

“Thanks to programmes like Commonwealth Class, and Support a 2nd Team, links can be forged across continents which I hope will endure as a lasting legacy beyond the Games.”

Graeme Logan, Strategic Director at Education Scotland, said: “We are delighted that Game On Scotland, the official education programme for the Commonwealth Games, has been able to create exciting learning opportunities for young people globally.

“Education Scotland know there are many schools demonstrating really creative approaches to using the Commonwealth Games as a context for learning and we look forward to awarding more international plaques over the coming months.”

Dr. Lloyd Anderson, Director British Council Scotland, said: “The link between schoolchildren from Crown Primary in Inverness and their peers in Toronto is one of many connections we’re making across the Commonwealth.

“Through Commonwealth Class, we want to harness the excitement and curiosity generated by the Games in Glasgow and encourage young people to share their experiences, and learn more about the values that shape our contemporary Commonwealth.”

Crown Primary School Head Teacher Elspeth MacKenzie said: “The public recognition of being awarded the first ever 'Game On Scotland' plaque was a huge accolade for our school and community and has inspired us to further and deepen our work through the theme.

“We very much look forward to participating today. Our shared interest in the Commonwealth Games 2014, and advances in technology, has provided us with this fabulous opportunity to make connections with our peers across the world, and share our experiences first hand.”