Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Education Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday 26 February 2025 at 9.35 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
Chief Officer – Legal and Corporate Governance

Business

1. Calling of the Roll and Apologies for Absence
Gairm a’ Chlàir agus Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest/Transparency Statement
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt/ Aithris Fhollaiseachd

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 provide some information on the nature of the interest and leave the meeting at the appropriate time.  Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Presentation: Inverness Family Centre
Taisbeanadh: Ionad Teaghlaich Inbhir Nis

Jennifer MacDonald, Centre Manager, Family Centre Inverness, will provide a presentation showcasing the work of the Centre, what it is like to be a two-year-old and a day in their life whilst at nursery.

4. Revenue Budget Monitoring and Service Performance Reporting for Quarter 3 
Sgrùdadh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach agus Aithris Coileanadh Seirbheis airson Ràith 3

There is circulated Report No EDU/1/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and approve:-

i.   the Service’s revenue monitoring position;
ii.  the Service’s performance and risk information; and
iii. the Service’s update on outstanding audit action.

5. Draft Learning Estate Strategy    
Ro-innleachd Oighreachd Ionnsachaidh

There is circulated Report No EDU/2/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  consider and note the Integrated Impact Assessment Screening in Appendix 1 of the report; and
ii. approve the Learning Estate Strategy included in Appendix 2 of the report.

6. Statutory Consultation: Creation of new Primary School for Tornagrain – Final Report    
Co-chomhairleachadh Reachdail: Cruthachadh Bun-sgoil Ùir airson Tòrr na Grèine – Aithisg Dheireannach

There is circulated Report No EDU/3/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to agree to recommend that the Highland Council establishes a new primary school to serve the Tornagrain housing development and amends the delineated area (catchment area) of the current Croy Primary School in order to create the catchment area for the new school.

7. Statutory Consultation: Closure of Duror Primary School – Final Report    
Co-chomhairleachadh Reachdail: Dùnadh Bun-sgoil Dhùrair – Aithisg Dheireannach

There is circulated Report No EDU/4/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to agree to recommend that the Highland Council discontinues education at Duror Primary School, transferring its catchment to that of St. Bride’s Primary School.

8. Statutory Consultation: Closure of Badcaul Primary School – Final Report
Co-chomhairleachadh Reachdail: Dùnadh Bun-sgoil a’ Bhaid Choill – Aithisg Dheireannach

There is circulated Report No EDU/5/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to agree to recommend that the Highland Council discontinues education at Badcaul Primary School, transferring its catchment to that of Ullapool Primary School.  Badcaul Primary School has not been operational since January 2022, and a closure decision would formalise the current operational situation.

9. Workforce for the Future Portfolio Board Update: Delivery Plan Budget Monitoring & Progress    
Cunntas às Ùr bho Bhòrd Cùraim-roinne Feachd-obrach airson an Ama ri Teachd: Sgrùdadh Buidseit & Adhartas a’ Phlana Lìbhrigidh 

There is circulated Report No EDU/6/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the report.

10. Person Centred Solutions Portfolio Board Update – Early Learning and Childcare Progress    
Cunntas às Ùr bho Bhòrd Cùraim-roinne Freagairtean Stèidhichte air an Neach – Adhartas Tràth-ionnsachaidh is Cùraim-chloinne

There is circulated Report No EDU/7/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the report, including progress to date and next steps.

11. Attainment Update – Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels (ACEL)
Cunntas às Ùr mu Bhuileachadh – Coileanadh Ìrean a’ Churraicealaim airson Sàr-mhathais

There is circulated Report No EDU/8/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.   the Council’s commitment to improving attainment and achievement at all stages through strategic initiatives developed in collaboration with school staff;
ii.  the accelerated improvement in Achievement of a Curriculum for Excellence Level in Literacy and Numeracy at key learner stages in comparison to previous years;
iii. full implementation in primary schools of a tracking and reporting system module on SEEMiS with supporting analysis data dashboard tool for all;
iv.  implementation of Attainment Boards to drive improvement in secondary schools;
v.   that attainment meetings take place in January/February 2025 with targets for improvement agreed with Headteachers and monitored thereafter;
vi.  the impact of target setting, tracking and resources and interventions used by schools to raise attainment and address learner attainment gaps at school, Associated School Group and local authority level; and
vii. the next steps outlined in section 8 of the report.

12. Minutes    
Geàrr-chunntas

The following draft Minutes are circulated for noting:-

i.   Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers (Annual General Meeting) – 3 December 2024;
ii.  Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers (Ordinary Meeting) – 3 December 2024; and
iii. Educational Trust Fund Sub-Committee – 16 December 2024.

13. High Life Highland – Appointment of Independent Directors
High Life na Gaidhealtachd – Cur Stiùirichean Neo-eisimeileach an Dreuchd

The Committee is advised that recommendations have been received from the High Life Highland Nominations Committee in relation to the appointment of Independent Directors as follows:-

Mr Michael Boylan
Ms Alli Vass

The Committee is asked to agree these recommendations as detailed.