Another busy week but a very different one for me. I have been in Inveraray all week. This is a big change for me. This week colleagues from Education Scotland have been working in the Local Authority inspecting the Education Services of the Council. The week has been made up of many focus groups both centrally at Inveraray and across each of the geographical areas. I have been spending the week supporting the planning and taking the opportunity of the benefit of catching up with staff who have been involved in the groups. A huge thank you to all who took part in the activities and all the positive comments. We have to wait for the team to finalise their findings before the feedback.
Whilst the week has been going forward I have managed to be able to reflect on many of the positive areas of work which is taking place in Argyll and Bute.
Early Years, including the Kintyre and Cowal Family Pathways
Positive destinations
Partnership working
GIRFEC
Assessment and Moderation
Leadership Programmes
Personal reflection for me has been in relation to the hard work of all the staff who work within our Education Service both in establishments and supporting establishments. I was asked what I thought was one of our strengths and without hesitation for me it has to be our people. We are a people service and as previously highlighted in blog on 5th September – people matter.
I met our newly appointed Head Teachers on Wednesday and was able to share with them my views on being a highly effective Head Teacher. It was good for me to reflect and discuss the skills that Head Teachers need to be very effective in leading in their communities.
I also attended a parental/community meeting in Strachur Primary and had some very good discussion around staffing levels and resourcing within the school. The parents were keen to share with me their views on effective communication and how we as a Local Authority need to look at how we share important information with parents. I agreed that this should be an area of focus. I am keen to look at introducing a parent newsletter and the Strachur Parent Group have agreed to review and advise me on one.
Currently there is a consultation on a new Parental Strategy and we would welcome views.
On Monday Education Scotland published the “Review of Local Authorities’ actions to tackle unnecessary bureaucracy and undue workload in schools”
The key areas reviewed were:
- Forward and curriculum planning
- Assessment
- Self-evaluation and improvement planning
- Tracking, monitoring and reporting; and
- IT systems
Argyll and Bute was viewed as having provided support and guidance that places reasonable workload demands.
This will be an area for review. A link to the document is provided below:
https://education.gov.scot/improvement/Pages/CfE-delivery-plan.aspx.
The last few weeks have been a really positive time for reflection on what is going well in the service and what needs to be developed. I would encourage everyone to make some time to stop and reflect. The following poem is one which is often helpful to me when life becomes so busy.
What is this life is full of care
We have no time to stand and stare?
No time to stand beneath the boughts
And stare as long as sheep, or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began
A poor life this, if full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
