Raising Attainment Strategy 2024-27
Perth and Kinross Council · 11 March 2024
Back to Learning and Families Committee — 11 March 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Perth And Kinross Council Learning And Families Committee 11 March 2024 RAISING ATTAINMENT STRATEGY 2024-2027 Report by Strategic Lead – Education and Learning (Report No. 24/82) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 This paper seeks to set out the strategic framework adopted by Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) to maximise the attainment of all children and young people and to close the poverty related attainment gap. The governance, relevant attainment measures, methodology and links to national policy are all clearly articulated as part of this Strategy. 2. RECOMMENDATION 2.1 It is recommended that the Committee: • Notes the mechanisms through which the Strategy will be implemented and how its progress will be reported back to this committee; and • Approves the Raising Attainment Strategy 2024-2027 (Appendix 1). 3. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 3.1 This report is structured over the following sections: • Section 4: Background • Section 5: Proposals • Appendices 4. BACKGROUND 4.1 The overall aim of the PKC Raising Attainment Strategy is to set out our shared vision, priorities and expectations in relation to raising the attainment and achievement for every child and young person to achieve the national ambition of: • Excellence through raising attainment, ensuring that every child achieves: o The highest standards in literacy and numeracy. o The right range of skills, qualifications and achievements to succeed. • Improving outcomes for children and young people impacted by poverty, with a focus on tackling the poverty-related attainment gap.
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4.2 In Perth and Kinross, we take a holistic view of attainment, tracking the learning journey from early years into a sustained positive destination for all children and young people, with a particular focus on those who face disadvantage and barriers to learning. We are informed, always, by our values of Ambition, Compassion and Integrity. We know our data and use it effectively to make sound decisions about allocation of resources and ensure a consistent approach in all sectors to maximise the attainment, achievement, and life chances for all of our children and young people. 5. PROPOSALS 5.1 This iteration of our Raising Attainment Strategy 2024-2027 clearly reflects the key priorities in the Scottish Government's National Improvement Framework. This builds upon the practice in previous iterations of the Strategy: • Placing the human rights and needs of every child and young person at the centre of education; • Improvement in children and young people’s health and wellbeing; • Closing the attainment gap between the most and least disadvantaged children and young people; • Improvement in skills and sustained, positive school-leaver destinations for all young people; and • Improvement in attainment, particularly in literacy and numeracy. 5.2 Within our core and locally agreed stretch aims, strategic objectives for the groups detailed below, are the key focus of activity funded through the Scottish Attainment Challenge in Perth and Kinross: • Improved attainment for those children and young people most affected by poverty; • Improved attainment for learners in the lowest 20% of our cohorts; • Improved attainment for all children and young people with significant barriers to learning; and • Improved attainment for all our care-experienced children and young people. 5.3 These objectives inform stretch aims set out for the next three academic years in terms of both excellence and equity for the following areas: • Curriculum for Excellence levels (ACEL levels - Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Level) for P1, P4, P7 Literacy combined and Numeracy; • Proportion of school leavers attaining one or more passes at SCQF Level 5 based on 'Summary statistics for attainment and initial leaver destinations' publication; • Proportion of school leavers attaining one or more passes at SCQF level 6 based on 'Summary statistics for attainment and initial leaver destinations' publication;
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• Participation measure: proportion of 16-19 years olds participating in education, employment or training based on Annual Participation Measure produced by Skills Development Scotland; • Health and wellbeing, using data for attendance and exclusions; • S3 Level 3 Attainment in Literacy and Numeracy combined to measure attainment at the end of Broad General Education (BGE); • The proportion of children starting P1 who meet all expected developmental milestones reflecting the importance of early intervention in closing the poverty-related attainment gap; • Average total tariff points to provide an enhanced reflection of the complexity and totality of senior phase attainment; • Curriculum for Excellence levels (ACEL) for P1, P4, P7 Literacy and Numeracy combined for Looked After Children (LAC); and • Total tariff points for LAC School Leavers. 5.4 A clear governance framework has been created to ensure that there is effective monitoring of the strategic objectives outlined above. The Raising Attainment Board sits at the centre of monitoring the progress against the strategic objectives and reports to this committee annually through the Raising Attainment Report and the Pupil Equity Fund report. Our annual performance and improvement planning, to implement the overarching strategy, will be reported to this committee through the annual Education Improvement Plan. 5.5 Implementation of Improvement Methodology is the key to creating improvement and raising attainment. Professional learning to create confidence and expertise in this approach is at the heart of our Career Long Professional Learning Strategy. Author Name Designation Contact Details David Macluskey Service Manager (Secondary Schools) ECSCommittee@pkc.gov.uk 01738 475000 Approved Name Designation Date Sheena Devlin Strategic Lead – Education and Learning 23 February 2024
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes/None Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement Yes Corporate Plan Yes Resource Implications Financial None Workforce None Asset Management (land, property, IST) None Assessments Equality Impact Assessment Yes Strategic Environmental Assessment None Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) None Legal and Governance None Risk None Consultation Internal Yes External Yes Communication Communications Plan Yes 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement 1.1 This section sets out how the proposals relate to the delivery of the Perth and Kinross Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement in terms of the following priorities: (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens; (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy; (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. This report relates to Objective No. (ii). Corporate Plan 1.2 This section sets out how the proposals relate to the achievement of the Council’s Corporate Plan Objectives: (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens;
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(iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy; (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. This report relates to Objective No. (ii). 1.3 The report also links to the Education & Children’s Services Vision, Values and Priorities in respect of the following key Priority area: • Learning and Achievement 2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 N/A Workforce 2.2 N/A Asset Management (land, property, IT) 2.3 N/A 3. Assessments 3.1 Under the Equality Act 2010, the Council is required to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between equality groups. Carrying out Equality Impact Assessments for plans and policies allows the Council to demonstrate that it is meeting these duties. The Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) undertaken in relation to this report can be viewed by clicking here. 3.1.1 The proposals have been considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment process (EqIA) with the following outcome: (i) Assessed as relevant and the following positive outcomes expected following implementation: • Improved educational outcomes for those children and young people most disadvantaged by poverty or other factors. Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.2 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 places a duty on the Council to identify and assess the environmental consequences of its proposals.
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3.2.1 The proposals have been considered under the Act; however, no further action is required as it does not qualify as a PPS as defined by the Act and is therefore exempt. 3.3 Under the provisions of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, the Council has to discharge its duties in a way which contributes to the achievement of sustainable development. Under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 the Council also has a duty relating to climate change and, in exercising its functions must act: • In the way best calculated to delivery of the Act’s emissions reduction targets. • In the way best calculated to deliver any statutory adaption programmes. • In a way that it considers most sustainable. 3.3.1 N/A Legal and Governance 3.4 N/A 3.5 N/A Risk 3.6 N/A 4. Consultation Internal 4.1 Consultation on the new Strategy was undertaken with all PKC school leaders and colleagues in Children`s Services. External 4.2 Education Scotland was consulted in the preparation of this report. 5. Communication 5.1 This Strategy will be shared with school leaders and partners through the Raising Attainment Board Structure. 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 No background papers, as defined by Section 50D of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (and not containing confidential or exempt information) were relied on to a material extent in preparing the above report.
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3. APPENDICES 3.1 Appendix 1 – Raising Attainment Strategy 2024-2027