Lessons learned

THE leadership of the education department at Argyll and Bute Council came in for some damning criticism back in March in a report from Education Scotland.

The report back then said, among other things: ‘ While there are some strengths in how well the education authority leads the change and improvement of its education services, there are also important areas for improvement. Overall, this area of provision is weak.

‘The pace of change in recent years has been too slow in terms of strategic planning for improvement and change.

‘This has had an adverse impact on the quality of strategic planning for improvement and change in the service.

‘Planning and reporting systems are not yet sufficiently well developed or fully effective to ensure the change and improvement needed. Senior leaders at all levels need to provide more effective guidance and strategic direction in order to take forward improvements within a realistic pace of change.’

The report also recommended five main points for action.

It said: ‘The education authority should:

significantly improve young people’s attainment across the authority;

improve the use of data, ensuring greater rigour;

continue to improve the quality of educational provision with consistently higher levels of support and challenge from central officers and elected members;

improve relationships and communication, promoting a more positive ethos among all stakeholders; and

improve the quality of strategic leadership and direction at all levels within the education authority.’

Because of these genuine concerns, a follow-up inspection was carried out in June, and from which a new interim report has been published.

The new report, just published on Thursday August 10, says: ‘The council has formulated a detailed improvement plan outlining how it will address the five main points for action detailed in the original inspection report. The plan sets out appropriate improvement actions, progress and timescales. Inspectors noted that the council had taken prompt action to develop this plan.

‘Argyll and Bute Council has made some early progress since the original inspection. Much more remains to be done.’

It seems the kick up the rear has worked, or is starting to, so let’s give credit where it’s due and congratulate the council for upping its game