Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated by Councillors Breslin, Corry, Horn, Kelly, RE MacIntyre, McKenzie, Marshall and Robb.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

To discuss and respond to the action points raised in the report, Strategic Inspection of the Education Functions of Local Authorities - Argyll and Bute Council, 21^st March 2017

The Provost advised that this was a requisitioned meeting in terms of Council Standing Order 1.3.2 which had been called for by sufficient Members of the Council.

 

The Council recommendations of the Community Services Committee of 6 April were tabled at the meeting.

 

The Provost invited Members to move a motion or amendment in support of the business before the Council.

 

Motion

 

The Council:

 

1.    Notes the terms of the Education Scotland inspection report and the reports from the Acting Executive Director of Community Services;

2.    Notes the recommendations contained within the Education Scotland published report and further notes the progress made by the Education Service to respond to the inspection report findings at this stage (see Community Services Committee 6^th April 2017, agenda report 3(d), Appendix 1, INEA Action Plan);

3.    Notes the positive aspects of education provision in Argyll and Bute identified within the Education Scotland report, including:

·      the attendance rates across primary, special and secondary schools  are above the national averages;

·       the achievement of children and young people across Argyll and Bute Council reflects a broad range of national and award bearing wider achievement qualifications;

·      that over 2000 young people enhanced their achievement portfolio last session and  this has contributed well to securing positive, sustained destinations for young people when they leave school;

·      that a large number of Skills for Work qualifications are available across the authority in key skills which have the potential to grow the local economy and enhance services, for example in early education and childcare, hospitality, engineering  and rural skills;

·      the 2014/2015 council Standards and Quality report  documents clearly the range of wider achievement courses and awards gained by young people;

·      that over 1500 young people last session achieved across a broad range of awards including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, John Muir, Saltire Awards and Youth Achievement Awards;

·      that in almost all early learning and childcare (ELC) settings, most children achieve their expected developmental milestones;

·      that at the secondary stages, young people’s attainment in National Qualifications has recently improved in a few key measures;

·      the number of young people securing a positive destination on leaving school has increased over the period 2011-2016 , and overall the proportion of young people moving on to a positive  destination has been above comparable and national averages;

·      the proportion of young people moving into employment on leaving school is well above comparable and national averages and has been consistently so for the last five years;

·      that a significant amount of work has been carried out to support Looked After Children;

·      that Argyll and Bute Council has the fifth highest rate for young people aged 16-24 to achieve a positive destination (employment; training; higher and further education) according to the Scottish Government’s Participation Measure which relates to outcomes for learners;

 

4.    Notes the serious concerns raised by Council Officers arising from the recent inspection and also their actions to address those concerns, specifically regarding the process and conduct of the inspection;

5.    Notes the actions taken by the Authority in preparing a new Education Vision and Strategy in response to the National Improvement Framework, the steps already taken by the Education Service to improve outcomes for all learners and the draft INEA action plan which take full account of the conclusions of  the INEA inspection concluded in September 2016;

6.    Agrees that the draft action plan (appended to this minute) will be further developed and implemented in response to the main points for action arising from the inspection report, incorporating feedback from the Special Community Services Committee meeting of 6^th April 2017;

7.    Requests the Acting Executive Director of Community Services to bring further reports on the progress in addressing the main points for action to future meetings of the relevant Committee, and;

8.    Requests the Chief Executive to put in place arrangements for the new Council to formalise the senior staffing structure within the service and to create a future permanency within the senior management arrangements for Community Services.

 

Moved by Councillor Rory Colville, seconded by Councillor Donnie MacMillan.

 

Amendment

 

The Council:

 

i.              Notes the terms of the Education Scotland Report (Strategic Inspection of the Education Function)

ii.             Notes the information provided by Officers in support of the Council consideration of the Inspection Report

iii.            Notes the recommendation set out in the Education Scotland report and the reported actions taken by senior staff since the inspection

iv.           Asks the Performance Review and Scrutiny Committee (or such other scrutiny committee in the term of the new Council) to examine the report and its findings with a view to

-          reporting on lessons to be learned from the inspection and the issues raised in the Inspection Report, particularly those relating to the strategic leadership and direction which can be shared across the Council

-          reporting on the best arrangements for the Strategic Leadership and Management of the Education Authority

v.            Agrees to withdraw the formal complaint made to Education Scotland.

 

Moved by Councillor Sandy Taylor, seconded by Councillor Isobel Strong.

 

Councillor Iain Stewart MacLean joined the meeting at this point.

 

Councillor Mary-Jean Devon left the meeting at this point.

 

The requisite number of Members required the vote to be taken by calling roll and Members voted as follows:-

 

Motion	Amendment
Councillor Colville	Councillor Armour
Councillor Currie	Councillor Blair
Councillor Green	Councillor Dance
Councillor Kinniburgh	Councillor Freeman
Councillor McCuish	Councillor MacLean
Councillor MacDougall	Councillor Philand
Councillor N MacIntyre	Councillor Strong
Councillor RG MacIntyre	Councillor Taylor
Councillor MacMillan	Councillor Trail
Councillor McNaughton
Councillor McQueen
Councillor A Morton
Councillor E Morton
Councillor Mulvaney
Councillor Robertson
Councillor Scoullar
Councillor Walsh

 

Decision

 

The Motion received 17 and the Amendment received 9 votes and the Council resolved accordingly.

 

(Ref: Recommendations from the Community Services Committee of 6 April, tabled)