You will now be aware that the General Teaching Council for Scotland was tasked by the Scottish Government with introducing a scheme of re-accreditation for teachers. This scheme is called Professional Update. The Professional Update process requires teachers to:
– keep their entry on the GTCS Register accurate
– engage in on-going professional review and learning
– confirm this with GTC Scotland every 5 years
The Professional Update process requires employers to:
– provide a Professional Review and Development scheme which meets national criteria and supports teachers in completing the Professional Update process

From August 2014, ongoing engagement in the Professional Update process is a condition of registration with GTC Scotland for all teachers. To ensure that we have a Professional Review and Development (PRD) scheme in Argyll and Bute that meets the criteria and supports the Professional Update process we have undertaken an online review of the current process, consulted with head teachers and teaching staff in all areas whilst delivering presentations and have been working closely with the professional associations.
We are pleased now to be sharing with you the DRAFT PRD POLICY and DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURES for final consultation.

All comments and questions should be returned to stephanie.duffy@Argyll-bute.gov.uk no later than Friday 2 May.
On 28 May a panel from GTC Scotland will be visiting to undertake verification of our policy and procedures. Following verification we will issue a final version of these documents. Training will be available in all areas and online to support preparing for your PRD. Training will be provided in mentoring for those who lead the PRD process.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require further information or have any questions.

Wendy Brownlie
Seconded Headteacher
(Principal of Rothesay Joint Campus)
Argyll and Bute Council
01369707118
07500918528

Leadership development is one of our key service priorities and on the 3rd September Headteacher meeting, we heard from four visiting contributors as well as Cleland Sneddon on the importance of leadership. We also heard some key messages about leadership and encountered many ‘conversation provocations’. This is very much part of an on-going focus on leadership in education in Argyll and Bute.

Below are copies of the slides which made up part of the presentations from Clive Dimmock (Qualities associated with High Performing School Leadership), John Daffurn (The Scottish College for Educational Leadership – Learning for Leadership, Leadership for Learning) and Iain White (Principal at Newlands Junior College).

Clive Dimmock InverarayqualitiesofhighperformanceleadersSept2014[1]

Iain White Leadership Argyll and Bute – 03.09.15

Leadership Slides – John Daffurn

Materials to support the Improvement Planning Cycle.

Improvement Planning – AP April 2015

Authority Priorities 2015

Key information related to Standards and Quality Report

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PlanningforExcellence4_tcm4-489373

Example reports

Port Ellen PS – IP 2014-2015 and SQ Report 2013-2014

Campbeltown Grammar School – IP 2014-2015

Campbeltown Grammar School – SQ Report 2013-2014 sm

CGS SQR

Sample layouts

format 1

format 2

format 3

format 4

Forest School Practitioner Course (Level 3)

24th November – 28th November and 1st and 2nd December

For those wishing to lead Forest School, at least 2 years experience in working with children / adults required

Cost of course £690

See HERE for more information or contact Janie@rowanecology.co.uk   Or telephone Ross at 07788190503

UHI, together with Highland Council, Shetland Islands Council, Orkney Islands Council, Comhairle nan Eilean, Moray Council and Argyll and Bute Council was successful in applying for funds to facilitate Masters-level learning for teachers.
The programme will commence on Monday 8 September. Included below are the selection criterion. Please note that as this is Master-level learning applicants should hold an Honours Degree. Our aim is to complete the selection process before the start of the summer break so that successful individuals have sufficient time to do a bit of background reading over the holiday period.
Further information on the programme can be found HERE
If you would like to be considered for this opportunity please submit an application outlining the planned focus for your work and how it will support Argyll and Bute Education Priorities and the priorities of the establishment in which you teach. You must also include confirmation from your Headteacher that they support your submission and that it will be a priority in your school improvement plan.
This information should be submitted to wendy.brownlie@argyll-bute.gov.uk no later than 3pm on Friday 6 June.
selection criteria:-
1. Two applications from a school will be favourably considered where the two applicants plan to cooperate with each other and to use relevant techniques such as a) peer mentoring and b) peer observation of each other’s classrooms;
2. Applications will only be considered by UHI if the applicant has been endorsed and supported by, relevant local authority personnel;
3. Applicants must demonstrate awareness of local authority educational priorities and development plan objectives;
4. Applicants must be endorsed by their head teacher;
5. Applicants must demonstrate that the planned focus of work is embedded within current school development priorities;
6. Applicants must be fully registered teachers;
7. Applicants must be class contact teachers;
8. Applicants will be expected to contribute to INSET at school and authority level in relation to areas of research;
9. Applicants will be required to participate in probationer training.

Parklands in Helensburgh plan to hold a doors open day on their Nov in-service day. They are offering opportunities to see what resources they use, how they operate as well as a tour. The school are also happy to respond to requests  regarding any other aspects of the work of the school that staff are interested in seeing.

Those interested should contact Parklands directly.

Parklands School
27 Charlotte Street
Helensburgh
G84 7EZ
01436 673714

Spring is in the air and that means that the SELMAS Forum is due.
Once again we are in the wonderful setting of St George’s School in Edinburgh. The very successful format of drinks, speaker, food, speaker, discussion and more food, speaker, again discussion and more food and panel will be maintained. It is a wonderful opportunity for educationalists across Scotland to meet colleagues, chat, discuss big issues and relax. The evening starts with drinks from 5.30 pm, with the formal events of the evening starting at 6.15 pm and concluding at 9.00 pm.
This year’s theme is The Challenge of Socially Just Leadership. The speakers, some of the best-informed and challenging presenters in Scottish education, are Rosa Murray of the GTCS, and Anne-Marie McGovern, Headteacher of St Benedict’s Primary in Glasgow,.
Social Justice is a key issue on Scotland’s educational agenda. As ever, SELMAS offers the opportunity to participate actively but constructively in the big debates. This will be a superb evening. We are also delighted that this year the quality of SELMAS’s work, including the Forum, has been recognised by a grant from the Scottish Government.

In recent years the Forum has always been a sell-out. Tickets for the evening are £25 per person. As we have done in recent years, we are again offering a discounted price for participants who bring a colleague who has not attended previous SELMAS events: £45 for two places if one of the two is new to SELMAS.

Book your place now by completing and returning the booking form below.
BOOKING PRO FORMA

This link takes you to the Scottish college for Educational Leadership Professional Learning area where you will find resources and links to quality Professional Learning Opportunities.

The Scottish College for Educational Leadership (SCEL) is an exciting and innovative development for education in Scotland. As a core part of Teaching Scotland’s Future http://www.teachingscotlandsfuture.org.uk/index.asp the College will support leadership development at all levels for education practitioners across Scotland.
The College’s vision is to support teachers and practitioners to make a difference through access to innovative and quality leadership programmes and services. Continue reading Scottish College for Educational Leadership Professional Learning →

ES is holding a conversation day focused on the primary curriculum on Friday 7 March in Duloch Primary School, Dunfermline. This event is aimed at school leaders. We are keen to take stock of how the curriculum is developing in primary schools and hear school leaders’ views and experiences.

If you would be interested in attending please contact margaret.mcguinness@educationscotland.gov.uk. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please note travel expenses are not paid for conversation days.