The original Devolved School Management (DSM) scheme was prepared in accordance with:
- Scottish Office Education Department Circular 6/93
- Guidelines for the introduction of the Scheme of Devolved Management for Schools in Scotland
The Education Act 2000 placed DSM on a statutory footing and as such it is a legal requirement to operate a DSM scheme.
The Scottish Executive Education Department (SEED) issued further guidance on DSM in February 2006.
The principles of the Highland scheme will reflect how DSM has evolved to date and also take into account, where appropriate, the current guidance issued by SEED. It should be recognised that the geography and the widely dispersed population of the Highlands will also influence the principles of the DSM scheme.
The Executive is committed to devolving up to 90% school based expenditure to the management of Head Teachers.
The Highland DSM scheme is based on the following principles:-
- In excess of 90% of school based expenditure will be devolved to Head Teachers. This percentage figure will increase in subsequent years as further elements of Special Educational Needs budgets are devolved.
- Head Teachers must take full responsibility for managing their own resources at a local level and at the same time recognise the part which they play in the management of resources within the overall context of Highland Council.
- The establishment of Integrated Learning Communities (ILC) will be extended to include the pooling of resources with other agencies within the local community.
- The devolution of budgets should be driven by those factors which result in improving the quality of the educational experience for children and young adults. It is important therefore to identify the most appropriate factors when deciding upon the allocation of financial resources to schools. It is also equally important to measure the outcomes achieved by the uses of these financial resources.
- In order to ensure best value and value for money the DSM scheme is supported by a frame-work for assessing how financial resources are utilised across each school sector.
- The provision of the necessary training for management teams within schools in order to ensure that the appropriate skills are available to provide the necessary leadership and decision-making skills within an increasingly challenging school environment. In addition a guarantee that financial management training will be provided for Head Teachers on an on-going basis.
- The systems and processes which under-pin DSM should be robust and must not place an administrative burden on schools. These processes will be reviewed on an on-going basis in the pursuit of continuous improvement.
- The implementation of strategic sourcing within schools which will result in Best Value being achieved by the use of competitively tendered contracts for selected goods and services.
- The need to involve all stake-holders including elected members, the ECS Management Team, schools, parents, students and their representative bodies.
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