Council is slated in education inspection
HER MAJESTY’S inspector has called for ‘urgent and sustained action’ by Argyll and Bute council education authority to ‘address significant areas for improvement’.
The damning indictment of education across the council area was published by Education Scotland (ES), on Tuesday, in a document titled Strategic Inspection of the Education Functions of Local Authorities.
In a further twist of the knife, Argyll and Bute was singled out by ES as the only local authority in Scotland requiring such a report.
Deeply worrying
Former education minister and Argyll and Bute MSP Michael Russell said: ‘This is a deeply worrying and very depressing inspection report.
‘It is one of the worst ever published about the educational management of a local authority in Scotland.
‘The collapse in educational management has major consequences for staff and pupils.
Badly let down
‘There are many great teachers in Argyll and Bute and great head teachers too but they have been badly let down by their senior management.
Mr Russell questioned whether the council’s senior management team are the right people to take forward the changes.
Mr Russell added: ‘Councillors cannot escape some share of responsibility and in particular those who were, supposedly, overseeing education.’
Councillor Rory Colville, policy lead for education, said: ‘I am unbelievably proud to have held this role as the building of the new Campbeltown Grammar has started.
‘Our young people have desperately needed a new school for years and they will now be getting one that gives them the kind of environment they deserve.
‘It would be a great service to education in Argyll and Bute if Mr Russell were to heed the words of John Swinney, the current education secretary, and work in ‘collaboration, with a sense of national shared endeavour’.
‘Personal attacks are no way to improve our shared goals to ensure the best possible edu-
cation for our young people.’
Argyll and Bute executive director of community services, Ann Marie Knowles added: ‘We will continue to work with ES as part of our drive for excellence.
‘However we have concerns about the process and outcomes of this inspection which took place last September.
‘We will hold a special meeting of the community services committee in April to fully discuss this report and outline those concerns. ES will be invited to attend.
‘We note the main points for action recommended in the report, are in line with the aims of our Education Vision and Strategy.
‘Importantly we will continue to build on our existing strengths.
‘We are, for example currently in the top five nationally for the number of 16- to 19-yearolds moving from school into training or further and higher education.’
An ES spokesperson said: ‘Working with Audit Scotland and other national scrutiny partners, ES undertakes annual shared risk assessments of every local authority in Scotland.
‘During 2016/17, this process identified a small number of education authorities where additional support and monitoring was required. The process also triggered the need for a formal inspection of the education functions of Argyll and Bute Council.’
The full report can be downloaded from ES’s website at: www. education.gov.scot/assets/contactorganisationinspectionreports/argyllbuteinea210317.pdf