The Arran High School Community Heritage Project has been in place in some form since 1983.  It is now formally built into the curriculum of the school with further development planned for session 2007-2008 involving greater cross-curricular links with many subject departments. 

All S1 pupils take part in the project during the summer term.  They are taught some background history of Arran in Social Subjects and are taught interview skills in English.  Further, all S1 pupils are taken on a visit to the Arran Heritage Museum.  The Museum are staunch supporters of the project and cooperate closely with the school.  Communication, teamwork, research, recording and organising all form an integral part of the term's work for first year pupils.

Other pupils, from third to sixth year, contribute by providing traditional music during the museum visit, by baking and serving teas at "The Gathering" and by supporting the Heritage Group during the checking and recording of materials gathered by the pupils. 

In the early days, the Heritage Project was seen as a medium for connecting the young people with the heritage of the island and establishing an ongoing and sustainable system for the recording and archiving of both past and present activity contributing to the island's heritage and culture.  It is of value not only to the island and those interested in its history and culture, but more importantly to the young people themselves.

The Arran High School heritage project was commended during a quality inspection of the school and in 2001 received an educational award from CBI Scotland.  Subject departments currently involved - in addition to Social Subjects and English - are Home Economics, Music and Art.