This week has been quite a week for Scottish Education. The results on Tuesday from the PISA report have made stark reading and identified that there are areas of development across Literacy and Numeracy and Science to be undertaken.
These results made headlines and once again schools became the targets of having to do better. Curriculum for Excellence has again come under scrutiny. I still firmly believe that the principles and purpose of Curriculum for Excellence are correct however along the way of implementation there have been many difficulties. The importance being set against the PISA data and the analysis indicates the current climate for data rich intelligence as a core to improvement. This is something that forms my practice daily as Acting Head of Education.
Pasi Sahlberg touched on PISA results in his presentation at the ADES Conference.
http://pasisahlberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/ADES-Talk-2016.pdf
On Monday at the education team meeting we spent some time on the reports of visits to schools this session and looking at the work which has been undertaken around results, improvement planning and the collection of NIF data. There has been a significant up take on the amount of visits made to schools and the consistency of the work which has been undertaken in the schools. This was an area which has been flagged up for development from the officers, schools themselves and from Education Scotland.
I spent time at my desk on Tuesday trying to answer the ever growing inbox and also gathering information and data for returns, reports and consultation which are all due this month. I also met with the Education Management Team to discuss the implementation of Our Children, Their Future. The strategy for Education Services will be formally launched in January 2017. We are looking forward to working with this document in our improvement journey.
https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/moderngov/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=548&MID=7207#AI96660
On Wednesday I had a variety of meetings including Early Years Leadership, Finance Meeting, Buildings and Improvement meeting and some individual calls with staff. Although these types of days are very busy it also provides a real sense of working across the service.
Thursday was Community Services Committee where the following papers were all approved:
- School Holiday Dates for 2017/2018
- Scheme of Devolved School Management (DSM)
- Standards and Quality Report 2015/2016
- Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce
- SQA School Examination Results 2016
- Inspection of the Education Function of Argyll & Bute Council (INEA) Self Evaluation Summary
https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/moderngov/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=548&MId=7313&Ver=4
I also met with Aileen MacLennan our Communications Officer and looked at some good news stories and dealt with some press inaccuracies too. This is an important time to fly the flag for good work happening in Argyll and Bute and Aileen will be delighted to help and support schools to undertake some positive press.
Aileen can be contacted on:
Tel: 01586 559068
Email: Aileen.MacLennan@argyll-bute.gov.uk
I spent Friday morning in a staffing meeting and trying to look to supporting our current issues and planning for the future. We currently begin the process of planning for next session and securing the staffing we need. The process is complex as we need to look towards preparing for our quota of probationers and also trying to ensure we have posts for our current Newly Qualified Teachers who we greatly value. I completed Friday with some report writing for next week.
