From exam results to community learning – ELLC update 27th Aug

Exam results, pupil attendance and a plan for community learning and development in Aberdeenshire were among the items discussed at the first meeting of the Education, Learning and Leisure Committee in the new school term (Thursday, August 27).

It was also the first committee meeting for the new chair Cllr Alison Evison and vice chair Cllr Charles Buchan.

Aberdeenshire SQA Exam performance praised
Councillors praised pupils, staff and parents across Aberdeenshire following a report that highlighted improved performance in national SQA exams.

Councillors agreed the focus for future to improve the quality of learning and teaching within every classroom as well as future performance in National 4 and 5 qualifications at S4 and to encourage schools to share, raise and sustain attainment.

The report presented to members showed that every academy has improved its exam performance over the last year and S5 pupils gaining three or more Highers has increased by 5%.

The figure for S5 pupils who attained five Higher qualifications and passed at grade A in one sitting this year was 94 compared to 81 in 2014 and there was a 2% increase of S6 and S5 pupils passing five or more Highers.

Chair Councillor Alison Evison welcomed the report as “very good news” and asked the committee to acknowledge the hard work of parents, pupils and staff in achieving the results.

Members praised Aberdeenshire’s four special schools and asked the chair to send a letter to congratulate them on their performance from 9 awards in 2014 to 35 awards in 2015.

Some councillors expressed caution over analysis of exam results especially in relation to curricular changes and were advised that the SQA had highlighted the complex issues of comparison of results from year-to-year too.

Members were assured that longer term trends would be analysed and that the increase of 5% in relation to Highers demonstrated the collective effort and focus on raising attainment across the area.

Councillors were advised that the full analysis of Insight data would be available in September.

Update on Strachan Primary School, Banchory
Councillors discussed Strachan Primary School and issues leading to the school recently being mothballed due to a decreased school roll.

Councillors were advised that meetings had taken place with the local community council as well as a recent meeting with parents who live in the area to reassure them that the situation would be kept under review.

Members were advised that mothballing did not mean closure and were referred to consult the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 for further guidance and details.

A recommendation to provide Banchory Primary School as a designated school to be used during the process of mothballing was added to the report and approved.

Director of Education and Children’s Services Maria Walker added that the focus is on education provision in the area and a further update will be provided in October to committee.

Further information on the statutory guidance can be found at http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0047/00477028.pdf Section 63-65.

Promoting attendance and managing pupil absence
Councillors approved a policy for all schools and early years establishments to support the management of pupil absences as well as promoting attendance and this will be rolled out across Aberdeenshire.

The policy and guidelines support establishments to:

• Promote attendance
• Encourage regular and positive communications of the expectations on
attendance to parents
• Develop effective recording processes
• Tackle persistent lateness
• Avoid unauthorised absence
• Provide support where attendance is problematic

Members of the committee also approved the formation of Area Attendance and Truancy SubCommittees in each administrative area of Aberdeenshire and were advised this would deal with unique and difficult cases in relation to absences.

Aberdeenshire Community Learning and Development Plan
Councillors welcomed a plan for Community Learning and Development across Aberdeenshire in a report that advised that over 18,900 people had engaged with the council CLD service in 2014/15.

The plan, which has been produced by the Aberdeenshire Learning Communities Partnership (ALCP) was welcomed by members who said it was a very easy to read document that clearly set out improvement priorities for those involved in the delivery of CLD in Aberdeenshire.

Members were advised that the CLD plan is a statutory requirement to identify gaps in provision and how best to meet them. The plan follows on from the establishment of the ALCP and the rolling-out of 17 Local Learning Community Partnerships across Aberdeenshire.

See the CLD plan and all of the reports discussed at committee