Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider  

 

Closing the attainment gap in Highland

19th October 2017

Highland Council is fully supportive of the aim to close the poverty-related educational attainment gap between children and young people from the least and most disadvantaged communities.

In Highland, 1537 Primary and 1006 Secondary School children live in the most deprived data zones.

Highland Council's focus is to target interventions to support raising attainment in reading, writing and numeracy. Schools have been supported to make best use of available funding, through existing improvement planning processes, and a ‘bureaucracy-light' approach.

The Pupil Equity Fund was launched in session 2017-18. Allocations are based on the number of pupils from P1 to S3 who are eligible and registered for free school meals, with schools receiving £1,200 per pupil. This involved 90% of Highland schools, receiving almost £4m.

Approximately 55% of Highland pupils attend the five Primary and four Secondary Schools supported directly by the Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC) funding. There are 1646 pupils being targeted for extra interventions in these schools.

Health and Wellbeing for Families and Communities is an integral part of tackling educational attainment. Family Link Workers are making a positive difference to attendance, engagement, attitude and ultimately learning in each of four schools.

The Positive Relationships Co-ordinator was appointed in January 2017 and initially worked with schools to establish and develop a nurturing approach. This has led to a raised awareness and understanding for all staff of the importance of social and emotional learning, and the development of a nurturing approach.

Chair of the Highland Council's People Committee, Councillor Alasdair Christie said: "Highland shares the features of many other rural authorities, in having a significant attainment gap between the highest and poorest performing pupils. The attainment challenge funding is provided to help close the gap in those schools with the highest levels of multiple deprivation. The funding model does not best suit rural schools or address rural deprivation, and I understand the Scottish Government is looking at that and will hopefully address this weakness.

"Our focus is to target interventions to support raising attainment in reading, writing and numeracy. There is large amount of quantitative and qualitative data around measuring the impact of interventions, and there are already positive signs starting to demonstrate impact. We have seen very positive results where parents have been more involved in schools and their children's education.

"Health and wellbeing of families and communities is a fundamental part of an holistic approach to improving educational achievement and the best outcomes for our young people and I am keen to see that we continue be innovative and to work hard with partners to provide the best environment for children to grow and thrive and learn in."

He added: "I welcome the constructive dialogue which has taken place between the Scottish Government and Local Authorities and the recognition of our important role in educational strategy and governance.

"However, there still remains too much uncertainty around the role of the new regional improvement collaboratives and how they will enhance the delivery of education and improve attainment.

“The last thing that parents and teachers want is another layer of bureaucracy and governance and Headteachers are particularly concerned about being given additional roles and responsibilities that may impact on learning and teaching time."

He continued: “The pace of change is very rapid and we will continue to work with the Scottish Government and other partners to ensure that education reform has the best outcomes for our children."

Wick comes in for special mention as Wick High School and Newton Park are to receive funding.

See the full report at -

https://www.highland.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/72624/item_12_closing_the_attainment_gap

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Yesterday
Wick Public Service Obligation Celebrates Successful Second Year Subsidising Wick Aberdeen FlightsThumbnail for article : Wick Public Service Obligation Celebrates Successful Second Year Subsidising Wick Aberdeen Flights
The Highland Council is delighted to confirm a highly successful second year for Public Service Obligation (PSO) flights between Wick and Aberdeen.   The period from April 2023 to March 2024 has seen a substantial increase in passenger numbers, with several months seeing over 1,000 passengers using the service, and overall the service has seen year on year growth of 25%.  
18/3/2024
Members Agree Digital Ambition For Highland Council - Or How To Make Cuts Without Saying SoThumbnail for article : Members Agree Digital Ambition For Highland Council - Or How To Make Cuts Without Saying So
Members of Highland Council, who met on Thursday 14 March 2024, approved a corporate Digital Ambition, which has been designed to deliver significant organisational change across Council services, recognising the current priorities within the organisation.   The Strategy, which is embedded within the wider Council Delivery Plan, has been developed to focus attention and resources on areas of change which will deliver the greatest benefit to the Council.  
14/3/2024
Clarification On The Role Of MCR Pathways' Coordinators And Mentors In Highland Schools
The Council remains committed to supporting mentoring in our schools, including the support that is currently delivered through the MCR Pathways programme.   Highland Council is currently undertaking a review of Employability Support provided by a number of different council services and how these relate to the work carried out by external partners and in our schools.  
15/3/2024
Council Agrees A New Draft Highland Outcome Improvement Plan
Highland Council members have considered and agreed a revised draft Highland Outcome Improvement Plan.   The partnership plan has been reviewed and updated by the Community Planning Partnership.  
15/3/2024
Members agree Highland Council's new Community Wealth Building Strategy
Members at today's (14 March 2024) meeting of The Highland Council agreed the local authority's new draft Community Wealth Building Strategy.   They were also asked to note that a period of public engagement on the draft will now begin, with a final strategy returning to full Council for consideration in September.  
15/3/2024
£60m Capital Investment Approved For Roads And Infrastructure In Highland
Plans to invest up to £60m new Capital in Highland roads and infrastructure have been approved by Members at the Council meeting on 14 March 2024.   The decision will see an additional £40m Capital investment in roads and transport infrastructure.  
10/3/2024
Highland Council Budget - Delivery Plan Sets Out Roadmap To Deliver Savings And Investment
A draft Delivery Plan sets out a roadmap which will ensure the delivery of £54.6m savings and over £100m investment agreed by Council over the next 3 years.   The report is a difficult to follow series looing at areas but does not specify where the cuts to jobs will come over the next three years.  
Cuts And More Cuts But Still Cash For Arts In Highland - £30,000 For TapestriesThumbnail for article : Cuts And More Cuts But Still Cash For Arts In Highland - £30,000 For Tapestries
The Co-Chairs of the Inverness Castle Delivery Group, Fergus Ewing MSP and Cllr Ian Brown, are delighted to announce the award of £30,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in support of framing the 57 panels that will form the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands.   This financial commitment from HIE has contributed significantly to the preservation of the 57 panels created by communities across the Highlands and Islands, of which 32 will be included in the first exhibition as part of the Inverness Castle Experience.  
6/3/2024
Council Employee Receives Special Recognition At The Scottish Empty Homes AwardsThumbnail for article : Council Employee Receives Special Recognition At The Scottish Empty Homes Awards
Dawn Meston from The Highland Council's Housing team won a prestigious award at the Scottish Empty Homes Awards held at The Studio, Glasgow on Thursday 29 February 2024 in recognition of her contribution to bringing empty homes back into use across Highland.   Between 1 April and 31 December 2023, a total of 25 empty properties were brought back into use following Dawn's intervention as Highland's Empty Homes Officer.  
5/3/2024
Highland Council Confirms Dates For Thermal Trial To Start In ThursoThumbnail for article : Highland Council Confirms Dates For Thermal Trial To Start In Thurso
The Chair of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee has confirmed details of a trial, to start next week, of a thermal process for carrying out pothole repairs.   An external contractor, Thermal Road Repairs, has been appointed to undertake the work using a thermal repair process.