Draft Action Note - Ward Forum - Dingwall and Seaforth (Ward 9)

Meeting held on 27th October, 2010

Present: Cllr’s Peter Cairns (Chair); Angela MacLean; Dingwall Community Council, Nigel Greenwood; Conon Bridge Community Council, Morag Foster, Maryburgh Community Council, Nick Thornton; Ferintosh Community Council, Colin Craig; Muir of Ord Community Council, Vic Clouston; Northern Constabulary, Chief Inspector Mike Coats; Liz Cowie, Ward Manager.

Dingwall Academy: Graham MacKenzie, Rector, Karen Cormack, Depute Rector, Dingwall Academy pupils.

Item 1 - Introductions. Cllr. Peter Cairns outlined the format of the Ward Forum and the topic for the meeting.

Item 2 - Apologies. Cllr. Margaret Paterson; Tom Davis, Muir of Ord Community Council.

Item 3 - Good news items.

Congratulations extended to Tom Davis, Chair of Muir of Ord Community Council, on becoming a JP.
Conon Bridge Community path link completed. Thanks to Sheila Maher and Graham for co-ordinating this.
Dingwall Gaelic Choir congratulated on their recent success at the Mod.
Fairburn Windfarm monies allocated to local communities including Muir of Ord. It is expected that a number of projects will now come to fruition.
Dingwall and Seaforth Energy Forum. First two community facilities have had insulation work carried out as a result of the energy audits carried out across the ward - Dingwall Community Centre and the Scout Hall.

Item 4 - Northern Constabulary. CI Coats touched on financial savings that would have to be achieved by the Force. Northern Constabulary has been planning for the last 18 months. Still aim to maintain high levels of operational officers. With 59 Police stations across Highland, this will be an obvious area for savings. Ward 9 should not see immediate changes. Dingwall Police station will remain 24 hours. Muir of Ord Station will remain open.

In terms of Ward policing, detection rates remain steady. Reducing crime through extra controls such as additional officers on the beat. Vandalism incidents have reduced however St Clements School had been badly hit. The perpetrators have been caught and sadly turned out to be pre teens. This particular detection was down to the efforts of the Community Action Officers through local liaison and speaking to the kids on the street. There is no doubt that the Force will be facing challenges over the next few years. Front line policing continues to be a key focus. There is a lot of debate about Scottish policing and can foresee getting down to three Forces. One Force has also been mooted. There is no doubt that savings can be made. PC thanked CI Coats who then left the meeting.

Item 5 - Main Topic. Curriculum for Excellence.
Background to the Curriculum and an overview was given by Graham MacKenzie, Rector, Dingwall Academy. Presentations then focussed on the programme and how it is being implemented in Dingwall Academy.

GM began by outlining the Curriculum for Excellence showcase that had been held in Dingwall Academy in 2009 over two days. This paved the way for implementation across highland. Karen Cormack, Depute Head, had spearheaded a number of initiatives. Dingwall Academy is one of the few schools in Scotland to have a fully formed implementation plan. It is a national agenda but is very localised in terms of implementation. It could be implemented very differently in each and every school and a main concern is that there is consistency for pupils. C for E is as much about culture change as it is about curriculum content. Dingwall has a good track record but is looking to use C for E to close the gap for those down the scale. One main issue is not knowing what the new qualification will be. The existing Higher will remain. Standard Grade and Int. 1 & 2 will no longer exist and will be replaced by national 4’s and national 5’s. This year’s intake starting the C for E covering four capacities. In Dingwall pupils will be getting to grips with experiences and outcomes ‘E’s & O’s. Will no longer get an ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’ or percentages - pupils will get a report on progress against outcomes. Ongoing reports will be made available. At end of year a holistic report will issued. Core to this is literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing. At present there are excellent links with cluster schools and are now working with primary colleagues on linking taught subjects. Two hours of PE timetabled in this year but there are concerns that this could suffer possible cutbacks. New timetables were outlined and how the main changes will be ‘transitioned’. House tutor role was explained.

Karen Cormack, Depute Rector, outlined the interdisciplinary project aspect. In Dingwall these have been called electives. The electives were then outlined.

S1 Stompers. Links geography and physical education.
o Dingwall Detectives. Links history to the town and the physical environment
F1 Challenge - Maths in motion. Uses Formula 1 to work with maths in real time.
G-Factor Gaelic - Get grooving with Gaelic. Approach is to make Gaelic fun and is very interactive.
S1 Science Elective – The Lip Balm Challenge Project. Employing science to make real products
The Backpack Project was also outlined.

1st year pupils then gave presentations on the Backpack Project and the Lip Balm Project. Cllr. Cairns thanked the pupils on behalf of the Forum for interesting and informative presentations and opened to the floor for questions.

Nigel Greenwood asked if there is still the ability to have choice and for changes to be made? The curriculum material is going to be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Tom Gray. Aspect of choice and is there too much choice and too much choice too early? In addition to choices for qualifications and Highers (the aspect of having 5 Highers is still the same) there are options for much more vocational type training (e.g. rural skills) which will offer opportunities rather than too much choice.
Iain Catto. Resources are highlighted as an issue by teachers nationally in making the C of E work. How is this affecting Dingwall Academy? Dingwall Academy is well set up to meet the challenge. Fortunate in that the staff have been willing to make it work. There is a good team at the school. Would always like more resources but can make it work at present.
Cllr. Cairns. Will the radical way that some schools are implementing the curriculum e.g. with fewer teachers - result in broader cuts? It is too early to judge.
Cllr. Cairns. Will the C of E affect those with additional needs? Dingwall Academy has always prided itself on being integrated and providing first class support. It is not anticipated that this will change.
Tom Gray. Does this give the opportunity to link more directly with, for example, Inverness College? Links have already started to be forged. C for E recognises the benefit of using different learning centres. Vocational opportunities will also be extended
Vic Clouston. Are teachers struggling to adapt to the changes? There has been constructive debate and there have been challenges but what has now been arrived at is felt to offer the best to the pupils at the school. Younger teachers are coming through that are excellent and highly skilled – and well placed to deliver the C of E.

Cllr. Cairns thanked all for an excellent (and informative) Ward Forum session. This was echoed by the Forum Members. Particular thanks went to the Dingwall Academy pupils and staff.

Item 6 - Consultation. It was noted that the Planning and Development Service had offered those attending the Forum the opportunity to discuss the Highland Wide Local Development Plan through a staffed display prior to the Ward Forum.

Adapting to Climate Change in Highland. Consultation currently underway with full documentation on the Highland Council website. Papers copies can also be obtained from Ailsa Villegas, Sustainable Development Officer, Highland Council Headquarters.

Item 7 - Ward Discretionary Budget. Noted.

Item 8 - Public Questions. There were no public questions.

Item 9 – Topic for next Ward Forum. At the first Ward Forum topics for discussion had been agreed. LC distributed copies of topics covered to date. Ward 9 had covered a wide range of topics and significant progress had been on the agreed Ward Strategic Priorities. It was agreed to review this at a future Forum.

For the next Ward Forum it was agreed that Highland Council Estate (Buildings and their condition) and Accommodation Review be the headline topic. It was also agreed that a presentation on the Maryburgh and Conon Bridge Community Options Appraisal would be informative.

The suggestion was also made by Iain Catto that a future Ward Forum topic could focus on Council performance and the Council’s Improvement Programme. It was agreed that this be given consideration.