HMIE Report – Community Learning and Development in Lochaber
Community Learning and Development activity in the Lochaber Area makes a positive impact on the lives of learners and demonstrates a positive working relationship between staff and learners.
These are the key messages released in the report today (30th January, 2007) from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education’s (HMIe) inspection of Lochaber. Also commended, in the report was the dedication of operational and strategic staff underpinned by a strong collaborative ethos and imaginative approaches; effective partnerships and working relationships with a number of other agencies and organisations; sound financial management systems which were responsive to the Community Learning and Leisure Service (CLLS) needs; the substantial external funding attracted into the Lochaber Area by CLLS staff; and the effective use of new technology to share practice and manage information across the Lochaber team.
The work that the staff do in the wider community, projects such as ‘Lochaber Outdoor Capital UK’ was described as being ‘very good’ and there were two examples of ‘Good Practice’, which would be promoted by HMIe across Scotland.
The ‘Good Practice’ examples were the ‘Migrant Workers Forum’ - a multi-agency group whose aim is to help new, migrant workers settle into the community and ‘Studio 13’ - an innovative arts and media project with young people. The work of the Sunart Centre, the community activities within the Ardnamurchan High School, was also noted as good, innovative practice.
The Inspectors made recommendations regarding a need to develop measurable targets for staff at an operational planning and delivery level, a need to better agree the roles and responsibilities of CLLS and it’s partner providers within Lochaber College and a further need to improve the training and development of staff.
Highland Council’s Vice Convener, Councillor Michael Foxley who chairs the Lochaber Area Education, Culture and Sport Committee, said: “I am encouraged by this report which gives credit to the work that has been developed to address the issues that a rural area such as Lochaber has to face. It is particularly pleasing to see that the Inspectors picked out three areas of good practice and is a credit to all those involved in these projects.”
John O’Kane, Area CLLS Manager, said: “I am pleased that the report reflects the growing teamwork that is actively being developed in Lochaber and staff welcomed the opportunity that the inspection gave them to ‘showcase’ the work that goes on in our area.”
Bruce Roberston, the Director of Education Culture and Sport, said: “I am particularly pleased that the report notes the dedication of both operational and strategic staff within the service, the excellent relationships that exist between our staff and learners and the positive difference that our work is making to the lives of participants of our service. We look forward to working on the points for action identified within the report to make a service which is already good even better.”