Minutes of Meeting of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 10 November 2011 at 10.30 am.
Present:
Mr W Fernie, Mr A M Millar, Lady Thurso, Mrs D MacKay, Dr A Sinclair, Mr M Finlayson, Ms F Robertson, Mrs M E Paterson, Mr I Renwick, Mr H Wood, Mr A Christie, Mrs E McAllister, Mr K MacLeod, Mr R A C Balfour, Mrs G Sinclair, Mr L Fraser, Ms J Douglas, Mr B Gormley, Mr A MacLean, Mr S Davidson
Non-Members also present:
Mr D Mackay, Mr G Smith, Mr J McGillivray, Mrs I Campbell, Mr R Durham, Dr D Alston, Mr H Fraser, Mr J Laing, Mr D Hendry, Mr A Graham, Ms C Caddick, Mr G Rimell
In attendance:
Mr H Fraser, Director of Education, Culture and Sport
Mr R MacKenzie, Head of Support Services, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr C MacSween, Acting Head of Education, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr R Campbell, Acting Estate Strategy Manager, Education, Culture and Sport
Mrs N Murray, Catering and Cleaning Manager, Education, Culture and Sport
Ms M Forsyth, More Choices More Chances Lead, Education, Culture and Sport
Ms S Belford, Quality Improvement Officer, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr M MacIver, Activity Agreement Co-ordinator, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr R Quigley, Head Teacher, Milton of Leys Primary School
Ms B Dunthorne, Finance Manager, Finance Service
Miss J Maclennan, Principal Administrator, Chief Executive’s Office
Miss M Murray, Committee Administrator, Chief Executive’s Office
Also in attendance:
DIGIT participants etc
Mr L Forbes
Ms K Stewart
Ms D Ferrier
Ms R Christie
Bridge to Employment participant
Mr G Lawrence
Activity Agreement participants etc
Mr N Thorburn
Mr K Johnstone
Ms M Thorburn
Ms J Sutherland, The Meeting Place
Mr M MacDonald, Skills Development Scotland
Mr A Rasul, Belvoir
An asterisk in the margin denotes a recommendation to the Council. All decisions with no marking in the margin are delegated to Committee.
Mr W Fernie in the Chair
Business
Preliminaries
Mr A MacLean opened the meeting with a prayer.
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Ms G Ross, Mr D Bremner, Ms M Smith, Mr E Hunter, Mr A S Park, Dr M E M Foxley, Rev D Kay and Rev A Glass.
2. Declarations of Interest
There were no Declarations of Interest.
3. Successes
In addition to the tabled list of recent successes in the Education, Culture and Sport Service, Ms M Forsyth, More Choices More Chances Lead, introduced five young people who undertook presentations during which they summarised their positive experiences and the activities they had undertaken in respect of the following initiatives which formed part of the 16+ agenda:-
- DIGIT – a joint project between Dornoch, Invergordon and Golspie Academies for pupils for whom the academic curriculum was not suitable. The project aimed to provide opportunities for young people approaching their leaving date to develop life and social skills in order to improve learning outcomes and employment prospects post-school;
- Bridge to Employment – an initiative whereby Lifescan, in partnership with other agencies, worked with six Highland secondary schools to provide pupils with career development and work-based learning opportunities; and
- Activity Agreements – an initiative for young people who had left school and did not yet have a destination. Activity Agreements were tailored to individual needs and demonstrated the diversity of this way of working with young people.
During discussion, Members commended the young people for their presentations and made the following comments:-
- the DIGIT project used the resources already available to schools to deliver curricular activities to young people with different support needs in a way which developed life skills and confidence and it was suggested that the model be rolled out to other schools throughout Highland;
- the imagination and flexibility of the staff and volunteers involved in the DIGIT Project were integral to its success;
- Lifescan was an excellent example of a company providing opportunities for young people and it was hoped that other companies could be encouraged to take part in similar initiatives and take on apprentices;
- the importance of building confidence and self-esteem from a young age was emphasised;
- the variety of pathways to positive destinations was welcomed; and
- it was suggested that information on the Shirlie Project, which represented people with support issues who were looking for employment, and how it worked in conjunction with education services be presented to a future meeting of the Committee.
Thereafter, the Committee NOTED the recent successes in the Education, Culture and Sport Service and the presentations in relation to the DIGIT Project, Bridge to Employment and Activity Agreements.
4. Revenue Budget 2011/12 – Monitoring
There had been circulated Report No ECS-49-11 (187kb pdf) dated 24 October 2011 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which set out the Revenue Budget monitoring position for the period 1 April 2011 to 30 September 2011 and progress with the achievement of the 2011-12 savings targets.
The current estimated year-end outturn position was an overspend of £0.591m, a slight deterioration on the figure reported to Committee on 15 September 2011, the main reason being the inclusion of savings targets which were unlikely to be met in the current financial year. The main priority during the second half of the financial year was to identify compensatory savings in order to deliver a balanced budget. However, it was highlighted that the position would be significantly improved if the Service was allocated the remainder of the additional £435k relating to teachers terms and conditions which was provided to local authorities by the Scottish Government earlier in the year. At this stage, the only significant unknown factors were the outcome of the devolved budget refresh, the outcome of the contractual dispute with the PPP2 providers and the extent to which each of the outstanding 2011/12 budget savings targets would be achieved.
In response to Members’ requests for further information on the pressure on the Additional Support Needs (ASN) budget, the report provided details of assessed needs for Learning Support Teachers and Auxiliaries on an Associated School Group (ASG) basis. It was emphasised that the projected overspend on the ASN budget had arisen as a result of committing expenditure to meet increased demand for staffing to support pupils with identified needs without the corresponding budget being in place. The analysis of assessed needs had highlighted a number of issues which would be progressed by Officials. There was the potential to introduce identification of assessed needs on a consistent basis across each ASG which would, in turn, inform the basis on which ASN budgets were allocated each year and proposed budget allocation models would form part of further reports to be presented to Committee in January and March 2012.
During discussion, Members welcomed the information on ASN and the assurance that the allocation of the budget would be based on assessed needs, emphasising the importance of better utilising the available resources in the future.
Clarification was sought on a number of specific points. In particular, it was explained that:-
- with regard to the agreed budget savings target of £0.395m in relation to teachers terms and conditions, the main component was the lower payment rate for the first five days of supply cover. The terms and conditions had been implemented in August 2011 so there was only one month of available data but, on the basis of initial examination, Officers were reasonably confident that that the savings target could be achieved;
- Determined to Succeed funding was an annual allocation distributed to schools. However, given the current budgetary position, the decision had been taken to hold the funding for a year and reintroduce it with effect from April 2012; and
- in relation to the PPP2 contractual dispute, meetings had taken place at a senior level and further legal advice was being sought as to what the Council could do to expedite the matter.
Thereafter, the Committee:-
i. NOTED the projected outturn for financial year 2011/12;
ii. AGREED the mitigating actions identified so far to off-set the budget pressures
identified; and
iii. NOTED the progress with the achievement of the 2011/12 budget savings target
and the possibility that alternative savings might have to be identified to off-set
any shortfall in the original target.
5. Capital Expenditure 2011/12 – Monitoring
There had been circulated Report No ECS-50-11 (158kb pdf) dated 2 November 2011 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which set out the Capital expenditure position for the period 1 April 2011 to 30 September 2011, including an overview of progress on the major Capital projects scheduled for completion within the next three financial years. The report also sought approval for variations to approved projects and provided an update on the Sustainable School Estate Review (SSER) and the feasibility studies relating to the Lifecycle Investment Projects approved by the Committee on 9 August 2011.
The current estimated year-end outturn position was an underspend of £1.85m, the reasons for which were detailed in the report. The underspends on the projects which had been delayed would not be addressed in the current financial year, therefore it had been necessary to identify approved projects relating to future financial years that could be accelerated or preparatory work undertaken, details of which were provided in Appendix 3 of the report.
The report also sought approval to invest in two aspects of ICT provision. Firstly, the installation of appropriate technical infrastructure to create a wireless environment at Invergordon Academy. This would provide an opportunity not only to test the technology but to put in place the appropriate controls. Secondly, an audit of Smart Boards in schools to identify the extent of the investment required to ensure that every school in Highland had access to this technology. Investment proposals in relation to Smart Board would be presented to the Committee on 12 January 2012.
During discussion, Members welcomed the progress on a number of projects and the acceleration of projects to address programme slippage in the current financial year. In relation to the SSER, it was important to factor in wider economic developments that might create population shifts and affect school rolls. In addition, with regard to the initial engagement phase in respect of Tain Royal Academy ASG, Parent Councils had had to work to a very tight timescale and it was suggested that, in the future, they be notified of meeting dates at the earliest possible opportunity to allow sufficient preparation time.
In response to questions, it was explained that:-
- with regard to the proposed installation of technical infrastructure to create a wireless environment at Invergordon Academy, the project would be led by the Education, Culture and Sport Service. Fujitsu would not be directly involved although they would act as a technical adviser;
- in relation to the SSER, the findings of the suitability surveys in respect of Invergordon and Alness Academy ASGs could be provided to Members when they were available;
- with regard to the refurbishment of the extension block at Thurso High School, the indicative start date was summer 2012 at the latest, depending on whether work could be progressed during term-time without disrupting the curriculum; and
- in relation to the proposed purchase of two second-hand mobile library vehicles, maintenance would continue to be carried out in-house by Transport, Environmental and Community Services.
Thereafter, the Committee:-
i. NOTED the progress with the delivery of the 2011/12 Capital programme and the
need to identify alternative approved projects that could be delivered within the
current financial year to off-set the identified programme slippage;
ii. AGREED that two of the mobile library vehicles whose lease agreements were due
to end on 1 April 2012 be replaced by purchasing two second-hand vehicles at a
total cost of £0.151m and that the associated loan charges be funded from the
existing Revenue lease budgets for the vehicles to be replaced;
iii. NOTED progress being made in relation to progressing the option appraisal report
to identify the preferred site for the new standalone Gaelic Primary School in Fort
William;
iv. AGREED that the contribution from the Leisure Facilities budget towards the
extension and alterations at Thurso Swimming Pool be increased to £500,000 and
that a funding application be submitted to sportscotland;
v. AGREED the Life-Cycle Investment priorities identified in Appendix 3 of the report
and that preparatory work be progressed in relation to these projects;
vi. AGREED that a feasibility study be carried out at Invergordon Academy to
establish the technical and financial implications of creating a wireless ICT
environment in a secondary school and that the outcome be reported to the
Education, Culture and Sport Committee on 12 January 2012;
vii. AGREED that an audit be carried out of the number and use of Smart Boards
across the School Estate and that the outcome be used to inform potential future
Capital investment in ICT across the School Estate;
viii. NOTED progress with the Sustainable School Estate Review; and
ix. AGREED, in relation to the initial engagement phase of the Sustainable School
Estate Review, that Parent Councils be notified of meeting dates at the earliest
possible opportunity.
6. Facilities Management Project – Progress Report
There had been circulated Report No ECS-51-11 (446kb pdf) dated 31 October 2011 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which outlined progress to date with the implementation of the facilities management framework at 15 selected primary schools in the Inverness area. The report also outlined the next phase of the planned implementation programme.
Mr R Quigley, Head Teacher, Milton of Leys Primary School undertook a presentation during which he summarised his experience of the new facilities management model, highlighting a number of strengths and weaknesses. In particular, difficulties had arisen as a result of only two of the four members of the facilities management team being in place when the school opened and he emphasised the importance of ensuring that all staff were appointed prior to the implementation of future phases. All four members of the team could be on site at the same time and this allowed for tasks such as heavy lifting to be carried out. However, the usual presence was one at the most and there were occasions when there was nobody on hand to deal with routine matters. The Team Leader was primarily based at the school which allowed calls to be logged directly. However, there was now an element of review to establish whether matters fell under the facilities management remit and this elongated the process. The property management role in terms of dealing with contractors, fire drills, alarm systems etc had been particularly beneficial. In addition, the new model allowed for a high level of lets to be accommodated although it was now a more lengthy process as the Head Teacher could no longer directly authorise them. In conclusion, the implementation of the facilities management model had been a fairly positive experience but it was highlighted that it was difficult to make a direct comparison with the previous janitorial model given that Milton of Leys Primary was a new school.
During discussion, the following comments were made:-
- reference was made to a letter from a parent which highlighted a number of concerns in relation to the facilities management model including:- the use of tradesmen, at considerable cost to school maintenance budgets, to undertake simple tasks which previously would have been carried out by janitorial staff; the removal of all tools from Facilities Management Assistants; and fire drills not having been carried since the implementation of the model;
- it was suggested that the possibility of providing work experience and apprenticeships in facilities management be explored;
- there was lot of work to be done to address the issues arising from the initial phase of the project and it was important that lessons were learnt;
- snow clearing was a significant issue in some wards and the importance of clearing “Safer Routes to Schools” was emphasised;
- it was important to differentiate between those tasks which needed specialist input and those which could be carried out in a managed way with minimal training;
- disappointment was expressed that a pilot phase had not been carried out and an analysis presented to Committee prior to rolling the model out to other areas;
- it would have been helpful to hear the experiences of a Head Teacher from a smaller rural school with knowledge of the previous janitorial arrangements; and
- whilst there were issues to be addressed, the model was necessary to improve health and safety and property management practices and to provide support to schools which currently had no janitorial cover.
In response to comments and questions, it was explained that:-
- a comprehensive response would be prepared to the letter referred to by Members;
- tasks such as assembly of simple flat-pack furniture fell within the facilities management remit and the specific example of a joiner being called upon to assemble a desk would be followed up;
- the tools which had been removed belonged to former janitors and were not insured for use on Council premises. Facilities Management Assistants now had a list of the equipment necessary to carry out the activities set out in their job descriptions and a toolkit approved by the Council’s health and safety team;
- fire testing was carried out in every school on a weekly basis, in line with health and safety requirements, and the necessary documentation completed. Fire drills had not yet been carried out as they were scheduled with the Head Teacher and undertaken as and when appropriate to each individual school;
- it had been agreed with Housing and Property Services that the replacement of light bulbs would be carried out by a contractor as some schools now had sophisticated electrical installations and it was important to be clear about what fell outwith the facilities management remit;
- in relation to concerns regarding the use of contractors to undertake simple tasks such as changing light bulbs, this was already the case in many schools throughout Highland which had no janitorial support. All schools had the same level of maintenance budget based on pupil population and one of the main reasons for introducing the facilities management model was to provide an equitable level of support to all primary schools. Facilities Management Assistants could not continue to do some of the jobs previously undertaken by janitors as they were not qualified and the Council would be liable in the event of an incident;
- with regard to Milton of Leys Primary School, the possibility of an automated gate system was being investigated so that facilities management staff did not have to open and close the gates several times a day;
- in relation to snow clearing, a system had been introduced last year whereby local contractors were on standby and could be contacted by Head Teachers to clear school carparks in the event of significant snowfall. Discussions would take place with Transport, Environmental and Community Services with a view to extending that arrangement to include gritting the footpaths around schools to make access safer;
- the facilities management project had highlighted that the allocation of repairs and maintenance budgets to primary schools needed to change and repairs and maintenance budgets across the Education, Culture and Sport Service as a whole were currently being reviewed. It was estimated that they totalled £0.750m to £1m and it was necessary to identify how much of that could be used for snow clearing. Alternatively, if risks were identified that could not be addressed, it might be necessary to submit a bid for additional funding; and
- it was not feasible to train facilities management staff to carry out tasks in place of contractors given the wide range of skills they would require to be qualified in.
Thereafter, the Committee:-
i. NOTED the progress achieved during the initial facilities management rollout phase;
ii. NOTED the lessons learnt and how they would be used to shape the second rollout
phase in Badenoch and Strathspey Primary Schools, as previously approved by
Members in May 2011; and
iii. AGREED that the possibility of providing work experience and apprenticeships in
facilities management be explored.
7. Statutory Consultation – Proposed Amalgamation of Hillhead Primary School and North Primary School, Wick
There had been circulated Report No ECS-52-11 (62kb pdf) dated 24 October 2011 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which contained details of the outcome of the statutory consultation on the proposed amalgamation of Hillhead Primary School and North Primary School in Wick.
The Head of Support Services spoke to the reports in respect of this and the following item on the agenda, highlighting a number of specific points. In particular, he summarised the consultation process which had been carried out. It was explained that the pre-proposal preparatory stage had run from January to July 2011, during which time there had been extensive engagement with local stakeholders and practitioners. This culminated with the preparation of options appraisal reports which had informed the proposals. Thereafter, statutory consultations were carried out in accordance with the Schools (Consultation) Scotland Act 2010. Following the six week consultation period, which ran from 16 August to 26 September 2011 and included a public meeting in Wick on 6 September 2011, Consultation Reports had been prepared which contained details of all representations received, including the reports by Education Scotland, and the Council’s responses to any issues raised. The documents had been published on 18 October 2011, thereby allowing a three week period during which further representations could be made prior to consideration by the Education, Culture and Sport Committee. The recommendations of the Committee would be considered by the full Council on 15 December 2011, following which Scottish Ministers had a six week period in which they could call-in the proposals. If the proposals were approved, there would be further detailed consultation with local stakeholders until the new schools had been designed and all issues in relation to safer routes to schools and safety in and around the schools had been addressed to the satisfaction of all concerned.
Turning to the proposal in relation to Hillhead and North Primary Schools in particular, 134 written representations had been received during the consultation period. Two further representations had been received following publication of the Consultation Report and these were tabled. The issues raised, and the Council’s response, were detailed in the Consultation Report and related to:-
- the opportunity to enhance education provision
- safe routes to school and traffic management
- transition arrangements
- takeholder involvement in designing the new school
- future curriculum delivery
- realignment of catchment boundaries
In conclusion, it was emphasised that the proposal should be considered within the context of the overall development of education provision in Wick, including the proposed 3 to 18 campus set out in the following item on the agenda which, if approved, would place every pupil in Wick in excellent new education facilities within four years, something few comparable towns in Scotland could offer.
During discussion, the following comments were made:-
- the recommendations, and the extensive consultation which had taken place beforehand, were welcomed;
- although there were some reservations, the local community generally supported the proposals, which would result in a better education for the children of Wick;
- it was important to maintain the standards that existed in the current small primary schools and that every pupil was recognised as an individual;
- it made sense to have a primary school on either side of the River Wick and to alter the catchment areas accordingly; and
- it was important to reassure parents that safe routes to school were paramount and reference was made to the excellent work carried out by the Council’s Safer Routes to School team in respect of the new Ben Wyvis Primary School which would replace the existing Conon Bridge and Maryburgh Primary Schools.
In response to a question, it was confirmed that Highland Cycle Campaign would be consulted in relation to Safer Routes to Schools.
* Thereafter, the Committee AGREED TO RECOMMEND to the Council that:-
i. education provision at the existing Hillhead and North Primary Schools be
discontinued;
ii. a new primary school be established on the site of the existing North Primary
School;
iii. the existing school catchments of Hillhead and North Primary Schools be combined
to serve the new primary school;
iv. in response to the almost universal views expressed during the consultation
period, the delineated areas of the Wick Primary Schools be altered along the lines
of the natural boundary provided by the River Wick with effect from the date the
new school opened, ie pupils living to the north of the River Wick would attend
school on the north side of the river; and
v. subject to the above proposals being approved, the Director of Housing and
Property be instructed to dispose of the site and building currently occupied by
Hillhead Primary School in accordance with current Highland Council policy and the
requirements of the title deeds of the property.
8. Statutory Consultation – Proposed Amalgamation of Pulteneytown Academy Primary School and South Primary School
There had been circulated Report No ECS-53-11 (64kb pdf) dated 24 October 2011 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which contained details of the outcome of the statutory consultation on the proposed amalgamation of Pulteneytown Academy Primary School and South Primary School.
Twelve written representations had been received during the consultation period. No further representations had been received following publication of the consultation report. The issues raised, and the Council’s response, were detailed in the Consultation Report and related to:-
- the opportunity to enhance education provision
- safe routes to school and traffic management
- management of the 3 to 18 campus
- pupil safety and security
- transition arrangements
- arrangements for particular groups of pupils
- stakeholder involvement in designing the new school
- realignment of catchment boundaries
In relation to the management of the 3 to 18 campus, it was proposed to visit similar campuses elsewhere in Scotland to learn from the experiences of other local authorities. This would inform the design and configuration of the new campus. There would be extensive consultation with all stakeholders on this issue in particular to ensure that the new school could be managed as effectively as possible. The critical issues were having separate accesses for primary and secondary pupils and designated areas within the campus for different age groups.
During discussion, Members welcomed the proposals and referred to the existing 3 to 18 campus at Kinlochleven which was operating successfully.
In response to concerns regarding the amalgamation of the kitchen facilities and dining area, Members were assured that dining arrangements would be closely examined and there would be sufficient space for all pupils to take their lunch break at an appropriate time.
* Thereafter, the Committee AGREED TO RECOMMEND to the Council that:-
i. education provision at the existing Pulteneytown Academy and South Primary
Schools be discontinued;
ii. a new primary school be established on a joint campus with the Wick High School
site;
iii. bthe existing school catchments of Pulteneytown Academy and South Primary
Schools be combined to serve the new primary school;
iv. in response to the almost universal views expressed during the consultation
period, the delineated areas of the Wick Primary Schools be altered along the lines
of the natural boundary provided by the River Wick with effect from the date the
new school opened, ie pupils living to the south of the River Wick would attend
school on the south side of the river; and
v. subject to the above proposals being approved, the Director of Housing and
Property be instructed to dispose of the site and buildings currently occupied by
South Primary School in accordance with current Highland Council policy and the
requirements of the title deeds of the property.
9. Curriculum for Excellence (16+ Opportunities) and Delivery on Education Post-16
There had been circulated Report No ECS-54-11 (130kb pdf) dated 31 October 2011 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided a summary of the key points in a new Scottish Government Consultation Paper entitled “Putting Learners at the Centre” which outlined plans for post-16 provision. The report highlighted a number of issues and sought Members’ support for the Recommendations that would form the basis of the Council’s response to the consultation document.
During discussion, the following comments were made:-
- the wide range of options, which reflected the differing needs and aspirations of young people, was welcomed;
- transport was a significant issue which required input not only from the Education, Culture and Sport Service but from all Council Services and it was suggested that this be emphasised in Recommendation 1;
- in relation to Recommendation 3, it was important that young people had the opportunity to experience a wide range of jobs, not just those available within their own communities, in order to broaden their horizons;
- concern was expressed that, in the current economic climate, the introduction of voluntary training levies could prove difficult and further information was sought on this matter;
- it was important to work in a joined-up way with other public sector agencies to support small businesses in Highland to provide apprenticeships;
- with regard to Recommendation 1, it was suggested that an additional sentence be added regarding engaging with employers to gain their support; and
- the drop-out rate during the first year of university was extremely high and it was important to prepare young people for post-school education before they left school.
In response to a question, it was explained that work was ongoing with a view to increasing the number of work experience placements available, particularly within the local authority. Although the Council did already offer a range of work placements, there were not as many as there could be and it was important to ensure that, in terms of the Family Firm approach, they provided additional support to young people who particularly needed it. The Get Ready for Work programme was also being examined and discussions were ongoing with Skills Development Scotland as to how it might be reformed in addition to the delivery of post-16 education and training.
Thereafter, the Committee:-
i. NOTED the key points in the consultation document “Putting Learners at the
Centre”;
ii. APPROVED the recommendations contained within the report, subject to the
comments made during discussion, which would form the basis of the Council’s
response to the document; and
iii. AGREED that the views of Skills Development Scotland be sought in relation to the
introduction of voluntary training levies and the outcome reported to Mrs D
Mackay.
10. Curriculum for Excellence - Highland Numeracy Strategy
There had been circulated Report No ECS-55-11 (57kb pdf) dated 31 October 2011 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which explained that the Highland Numeracy Strategy highlighted the ‘essential elements’ which were required, in both primary and secondary schools, to support the development of numeracy at individual and school level. It provided a framework against which schools were encouraged to evaluate their current practice and to plan for future developments. In addition, the Strategy provided a wealth of very helpful resources which derived from schools in Highland and beyond. Practitioners were encouraged to explore and use these resources to support the development of numeracy across the curriculum within their own schools.
Ms S Belford, Quality Improvement Officer undertook a presentation during which it was explained that the Highland Numeracy Strategy was organised into five key areas:- Leadership and Vision; Learning and Teaching; Culture and Ethos; People; and Partnership. It had been devised by members of the Highland Numeracy Group who were practitioners from within Highland who had demonstrated sound practice in teaching numeracy and who shared a desire to ensure that all pupils developed core numeracy skills which would equip them for life and work in the future. The aims of the Strategy were to clarify the Council’s expectations of how numeracy should be embedded within the curriculum of every school; provide support to schools in delivering a quality curriculum as well as learning and teaching in numeracy; provide a framework for self evaluation; highlight the importance of numeracy within the 21st century curriculum; and consolidate teaching staff’s understanding of their responsibilities in relation to teaching core numeracy skills. The Strategy was available on GLOW, the national intranet for education, and examples were provided of how it could be used as a resource. In conclusion, the key messages from the Strategy, as detailed in the report, were summarised.
During discussion, the following comments were made:-
- the report was welcomed, particularly the inclusion of parents as partners, the intended use of the outdoor environment to enhance numeracy skills and the fact that the Strategy applied to both primary and secondary schools; and
- it was important to better understand how all those involved with children from the very earliest years could begin to develop confidence in basic skills like numeracy.
In response to comments and questions, it was explained that:-
- banks and financial institutions were aware of the need for financial education and there were a number of quality resources available. In addition, some Citizens Advice Bureau’s visited secondary schools and provided information on budgeting; and
- work would shortly be commencing with Education Scotland on Continuing Professional Development for early years staff in relation to numeracy and there would be a key conference in due course.
Thereafter, the Committee NOTED the Highland Numeracy Strategy.
11. Advancing Professionalism in Teaching – The McCormac Review/ Teachers for the 21st Century – The Donaldson Review
There had been circulated Report No ECS-56-11 (53kb pdf) dated 31 October 2011 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided a summary of key recommendations which arose from two national reviews carried out recently covering (a) Teacher Education and (b) Teacher Employment. The report also outlined the next steps towards implementing the recommendations.
The Committee NOTED the terms of the report as circulated.
12. Action Plans - Internal Audit Reports - Phoenix e1 System Audit and Financial Irregularities
There had been circulated Report No ECS-57-11 (327kb pdf) dated 24 October 2011 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided an overview of the two Internal Audit reports concerning the Education, Culture & Sport Service that were considered by the Audit and Scrutiny Committee on 22 September 2011 and the related management actions that were agreed at that Committee.
The Committee NOTED the management actions that had or would be taken to address the issues identified in the Internal Audit reports.
The meeting concluded at 1.20 pm.