Sustaining Education in Highland Communities

The work of Highland Council’s Care and Learning Service to provide sustainable quality education in Highland communities was further endorsed today by members of the Council’s Care, Learning and Housing Committee.

Members gave their approval to the reframing of the previous “Management in Schools Programme” to an updated and revised “Sustainable Education in Highlands” programme.

Cllr Andrew Baxter, Chair of the Care, Learning and Housing Committee said: “I am pleased to see that the Sustainable Education in Highlands programme is moving forward with drive and determination. This reflects the Council’s Programme priority to ‘Protect the delivery of education in our schools by implementing an ambitious school’s management programme to support our Head Teachers and staff, securing long term sustainability, especially in our rural communities.”

Bill Alexander, Highland Council’s Director of Care and Learning said: “The Sustainable Education in Highland Communities programme is about providing confidence in the quality of education in local communities across the Highlands. It is about supporting the sustainability of our communities.”

Members approved 5 work streams (and the creation of a programme team) required to deliver the revised programme plan. The work streams are:

• Achieve high quality educational outcomes;
• Management structures and school groupings;
• Support for schools;
• Workforce planning and development; and
• Communication of the programme.

Members noted the progress to date regarding discussions on the management of schools and agreed that engagement with communities will be progressed in Gairloch, Kinlochleven, Inverness High, Thurso and Wick associated school groups.

The creation of local stakeholder groups in other Highland associated school groups, which would link in with Community Planning and other local partnerships, was also endorsed by the Committee.