Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Education Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 27 February 2020 at 12.05 pm.

Please note the later start time of the Committee due to the Members’ Pre-Committee Workshop scheduled to take place in the Council Chamber at 10.30 am.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully

Stewart Fraser
Head of Corporate Governance

Business

1.    Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan

2.    Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3.    Role and Remit of the Education Committee
Dreuchd agus Raon-ùghdarrais Comataidh an Fhoghlaim

There is circulated Report No EDU/01/20 dated 17 February 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer Performance and Governance.

The Committee is invited to consider the report.

4.    Membership of Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers
Ballrachd Comataidh Barganachaidh Ionadail airson Thidsearan

The proposed membership of the Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers is the Chair and Vice Chair of the Corporate Resources Committee, Chair and Vice Chair of the Education Committee and five other Members of the Education Committee.

The political groups have been asked for their nominations which will be tabled at the meeting.

The Committee is invited to approve the membership as tabled.

5.    Appointment to SEEMiS LLP Board
Cur an Dreuchd gu Bòrd SEEMisS LLP

The Committee is invited to appoint Mr T Heggie to the SEEMiS LLP Board.

6.    Dingwall Academy – Highland Deaf Education
Acadamaidh Inbhir Pheofharain – Foghlam Buidhre na Gàidhealtachd

There will be a short presentation by pupils from Dingwall Academy.

7.    Analysis of Secondary School Interim Attainment
Mion-sgrùdadh de Bhuileachadh Eadar-amail Àrd-sgoile

There is circulated Report No EDU/02/20 dated 18 February 2020 by the Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    scrutinise and note the position in respect of attainment of the young people in the Highlands;
ii.    note that, as a result of attainment meetings, Head Teachers and central officers will agree actions for improvement;
iii.    note that a follow-up meeting of this Committee will take place in May 2020, when the performance of individual schools will be scrutinised along with the school actions for improvement for session 2020/21 in relation to the recently published Best Value Assurance Report; and
iv.    agree the future actions to raise attainment and achievement for all young people across the Highlands.

8.    Additional Support Needs (ASN)
Feumalachdan Taice a Bharrachd

There is circulated Report No EDU/03/20 dated 24 February 2020 by the Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.    the contents of the report;
ii.    that a Members workshop will take place to continue engagement in developing the new ASN model;
iii.    that consultation on the preferred model will take place between now and mid-April; and
iv.    that a final report will be presented to the Education Committee on 21 May 2020 to agree the final ASN model.

9.    Review of Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers (LNCT) Agreement 23: Appointment Procedures – Head Teachers and Depute Head Teachers
Ath-sgrùdadh air Aonta 23 Comataidh Barganachaidh Ionadail airson Thidsearan: Modhan Cur an Dreuchd – Ceannardan agus Iar-Cheannardan

There is circulated Report No EDU/04/20 dated 6 February 2020 by the Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the position in relation to the ongoing review of LNCT 23: Appointment Procedures – Head Teachers and Depute Head Teachers; and
ii.    approve the proposed variation for Head Teacher and Depute Head Teacher appointments to ensure the Education official on the final interview panel will also have voting rights in addition to Elected Members and Parent Council representatives.

10.    Early Years Update
Fios às Ùr mu Thràth-bhliadhnaichean

There is circulated Report No EDU/05/20 dated 18 February 2020 by the Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.    the update provided in relation to Early Years and Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) expansion; and
ii.    the status of ELC capital projects and the risk management actions being taken.

11.    Review of the proposal to discontinue provision of education at Stoer Primary School, re-assigning its catchment area to that of Lochinver Primary School
Ath-sgrùdadh air a’ mholadh gus solar foghlaim aig Bun-Sgoil an Stòir a sgur, a’ cur na sgìre-sgoile ri Bun-Sgoil Loch an Inbhir

There is circulated Report No EDU/06/20 dated 5 February 2020 by the Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to agree to recommend to the Council that education be discontinued at Stoer Primary School and its catchment transferred to that of Lochinver Primary School.

12.    Statutory Consultation – Gaelic Medium Catchment Proposals for the Plockton Associated School Group
Co-chomhairle Reachdail – Molaidhean Sgìre-sgoile Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig airson Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte a’ Phluic

There is circulated Report No EDU/07/20 dated 7 February 2020 by the Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to agree to proceed to statutory consultation on the basis of the Proposal attached to the report.