Plan to tackle ’embarrassing’ league table results outlined by committee
Highland Council’s education committee has set out a plan to raise attainment across the region.
It follows growing concerns about Highland’s lacklustre performance in school exams.
Last November, Highland Council data revealed it lagged behind the national average, particularly in the senior phase of school.
In Highland 18 per cent of fifth year pupils got five or more Highers. The national figure is 25 per cent. By S6 the gap widens – with 34 per cent of pupils securing five awards compared with 40 per cent nationally.
Speaking at the education committee meeting, Councillor Muriel Cockburn branded the results ‘embarrassing’ and asked: ‘What are others doing that we are not?’
A report sets out a range of measures designed to improve Highland attainment in the years ahead. Meetings have already taken place with secondary schools and Highland education bosses are now turning their attention to primary schools.
Executive chief officer Nicky Grant outlined a process of ‘collaborative engagement, support and challenge’ across Highland primary schools.
The first step is a series of meetings this month which will focus on performance data. The theme of ‘challenge’ runs throughout, encouraging leaders to agree immediate steps towards improvement.
The council has already said it will work to improve transitions from early years, and adopt new strategies for literacy and numeracy. All teachers will be offered special training to provide a consistent approach to benchmarking and data analysis.
In secondary schools Highland Council will review the breadth of the curriculum, with a special focus on the 20 per cent of pupils with the lowest attainment levels.
It will also look at integrating skills into the 3-18 curriculum and explore non-graded SCQF courses for ‘alternative curricular pathways.’
Ms Grant reassured members there would be ‘a relentless focus on attainment, especially among our most vulnerable.’
She highlighted some ‘good news stories’ on Highland attainment. Positive destinations have risen by two per cent, employment among the most vulnerable is up seven per cent, and the outcomes for looked-after children are up 12 per cent.
However, the education boss accepted that council would benefit from looking at what other areas are doing. Ms Grant said her team needed the support, challenge and engagement of elected members.
Councillor Graham Mackenzie called for returning councillors and new elected members to really engage with the issues, adding that he wanted the committee to look forward and deliver change.
Fiona Grant, head of secondary education, agreed: ‘We are at a point in Highland education where we’ve acknowledged we’re not where we want to be,’ she said. Ms Grant said every head teacher is focused now on where Highland sits nationally and understands what needs to happen next.
‘That is a huge step forward for us,’ she added. ‘We are all focused on improving attainment for Highland.
‘There’s no magic wand I’m afraid – schools are a mesh of relationships, and these extend beyond the school boundary. It’s a journey that everyone in Highland needs to be on.’
Ms Grant said she wants a focus on consistency, and on improved support for head teachers to do a job that is ‘not easy’. She said there are not currently enough central officers to help the schools.
‘I’m looking forward to the new administration coming in because we’ve got a task ahead and we move forward with honesty and sharing.’