Key role for council director

A leading figure in Fife education has been named as one of the key appointments to a controversial Scottish Government initiative that aims to raise school attainment.

Carrie Lindsey, executive director of education and children’s services at Fife Council, will be one of six collaborative heads for Holyrood’s Next Steps project.

The groups are to be established throughout Scotland, with the education boards asked to have detailed improvement plans in place by January.

The purpose is to allow crossregion bodies to share information and techniques in a bid to boost education standards.

However, the move has been criticised in some political quarters amid claims it will sideline local authorities and threaten local influence over educational decisions.

Last month the leadership of Fife Council defended its support for the scheme, claiming that initial fears from some councillors had been eased following dialogue with the Scottish Government.

With further details of the plans emerging, Ms Lindsay has been unveiled as a regional improvement lead for the South East Collaborative, including the councils of Edinburgh City, East Lothian, Fife, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “This Government’s overriding priority is to close the povertyrelated attainment gap and raise education standards.”