Young learners’ turn to have a say on reforms

Argyll and Bute’s education reform consultation has started its last and most significant phase, giving young people the chance to have a say on a proposed new way of running schools, writes Kathie Griffiths.

The much-debated consultation process, focusing on adults up until now, has already been extended twice, with the current end date now Thursday March 31.

The council says consulting pupils from P4 upwards is the ‘final and most significant’ part of its ongoing consultation on its ‘collective’ model for school leadership. The process giving pupils their say has already started but there are concerns that parents were not given a heads-up that their children were about to be consulted.

Lobby group WISE4all is worried parents may not be informed when their children are taking part in the consultation.

A spokesperson said: ‘How will young learners be able to access wider information to allow them to make informed responses? Young learners should not be manipulated into agreeing with school leadership proposals which many of their teachers and parents believe will impact negatively on the future sustainability of their communities,’ said a WISE4all spokesperson.

Reform plans include bringing schools together under one executive leader, which would cut the number of head teachers in Argyll and Bute.

Pupils are being consulted through their pupil councils and schools have been given materials to help with that, including videos tailored to suit three different age groups.

Although the videos will use age-appropriate language and levels of detail, the same important information will be covered as that in adult presentations out in communities.

Pupils are being asked to work through the key points of the proposals, then discuss the pros and cons together before agreeing a unified response on behalf of their school. Support from school staff is available where required.

Argyll and Bute Council says it is working with teachers to make sure young people with additional support needs are included in this process.

The WISE4all spokesperson added: ‘What will young learners learn from this exercise? If they are being asked to engage with an age appropriate version of the materials sent to adults, they will simply see a glossy advert for a new school leadership model. There will be no evidence for the need for change and no explanation of how the changes will improve the key issues identified; falling pupil numbers and difficulties recruiting staff. They will see no alternatives to the education service proposals.

‘They will be asked, as adults are, to agree with a series of assertions. They will be asked to agree that aspects of current good practice, such as schools working together or good links at transition from primary to secondary, will be main benefits from future changes in school leadership.’

To see a film talking through the plans, visit www. EmpoweringOurEducators.

‘What will young learners learn from this exercise?’