Item 07 - Strategy for Excellence and Equity
West Dunbartonshire Council · 27 November 2024
Back to Educational Services Committee — 27 November 2024 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by Laura Mason, Chief Education Officer Educational Services Committee: 27 November 2024 ___________________________________________________________________ Subject: Strategy for Excellence and Equity 1. Purpose The purpose of this report is to update the Educational Services Committee on progress with implementing the service plan for excellence and equity. 1.1 This report is for noting. 2. Recommendations 2.1 The Educational Services Committee is asked to note: (a) the Service Excellence and Equity Improvement Framework and Improvement Plan 2024 (Appendix 1) aligned to statutory expectations for reporting and planning; and (b) key activities delivered in session 2024/25 to further improve equity and excellence outcomes for children and young people. 3. Background 3.1 In line with the Strategy for Excellence and Equity the Committee receives regular reports outlining progress against this strategic priority. 3.2 The Strategy for Excellence and Equity is supported by Scottish Government Strategic Equity Funding (2022-2026). This funding gradually decreases each year during this period. The fund available for academic session 2024/25 is £1,149,765; and for the final year of the programme, session 2025/26, is £851,743. The Service is on track to achieve full budget spend in session 2024/25. 3.3 Local authorities are required to produce annual reports and plans aligned to statutory National Improvement Framework Guidance. The National Improvement Framework focuses on two main aims: Excellence: Raising achievement and improving outcomes to ensure that every child and young person reaches their full potential. Equity: Ensuring every child and young person has the same opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or additional needs. The National Improvement Framework outlines key priorities and drivers of improvement which local authority annual improvement planning should take account of. ITEM 7
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3.4 Included in this report is the service Excellence and Equity Improvement Plan 2024 (Appendix 1) which outlines service priorities and plan. These are aligned to the National Improvement Framework, the Council’s future strategic direction, and the tapered Strategic Equity Funding allocations. While aligned to national and local outcomes the improvement plan also incorporates feedback from our children, young people, families and staff. 4.0 Main Issues 4.1 West Dunbartonshire Improvement Framework and Plan As reported to Committee in September 2024, the service has established several key priorities aimed at embedding principles and practice for equity and excellence. To achieve these priorities, expectations have been set for our learners, practitioners, leaders and system. 4.1.1 The Expectations The expectations set for West Dunbartonshire are outlined at Table 1: Table 1: National Improvement Framework Drivers West Dunbartonshire Expectations: Learners, Practitioners, Leaders and System Performance Information Teachers and Practitioner professionalism Curriculum and Assessment School & ELC Leadership School and ELC Improvement Parental/Carer Involvement Learners: Increased engagement, progress, achievement Practitioners: Adaptive experts who teach based on a clear understanding of what works best for raising learner achievement Practitioners: Delivering broad ranging, personalised curriculum ensuring all children and young people develop skills for learning, life and work Leaders: Enhanced visibility into school performance and decision making based on evidence System: Integrated working to develop the talent of our diverse young people 4.2 Programme of Learning and Development To achieve the expectations featured in Table 1, a programme of learning and development is, for the majority, in year two of implementation. This programme is building capacity for long lasting change and improvement by developing skills and expertise in our schools and local learning communities. 4.2.1 Visible Learning: almost all primary teachers are engaged in deep learning about learner dispositions referring to attitudes, habits of mind, and characteristics that influence a child’s approach to learning. Staff are reviewing the quality of delivery in their classes and schools, with individual learning programmes established for every teacher and school to develop all
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children’s ability to engage effectively in learning, adapt to challenges and achieve academic goals. 4.2.2 Collective Leadership: during session 2023/24, 84 curriculum leaders and depute headteachers from all secondary schools participated in a leadership programme which was evaluated as having a positive impact on raising attainment strategies, designing learning experiences, fostering collaborative relationships with staff and delivering long lasting improvement practices. A second cohort of secondary school leaders is engaged in the programme this session. 4.2.3 Outstanding Teacher Intervention: up to 70 secondary school teachers are being offered the opportunity to participate in a teaching intervention programme this session aimed at transforming teaching and learning. The 16 week programme engages teachers in professional reading, dialogue and reviewing film recordings of their teaching and learning with the support of a coach. 4.2.4 ‘Count with Me at WDC’: all schools have identified ‘Maths Champions’ to provide ‘experts’ in each school on approaches which support all children to attain and achieve in maths. The ‘ Maths Champions’ will train staff in their own schools and be a resource to support learning now and in the future. 4.2.5 Health and Wellbeing Curriculum: a working group is producing a refreshed set of curriculum planners and guidance for use in West Dunbartonshire schools and early learning and childcare centres. 4.2.6 Data Leads: each local learning community will bring together the school based data leads as a network to review the local learning community performance data in the areas of attainment, the attainment gap and attendance. This approach builds expertise in using equity and excellence data across all schools and learning communities. 4.2.7 Attainment Reviews: the process for secondary reviews has been evaluated, with headteachers consulted on a proposal which aims to engage officers and senior school leaders in a more frequent programme of attainment and equity reviews. Monthly review meetings involving central officers, headteachers, depute headteachers and curriculum leaders will take place at each of the secondary schools to review progress and share practice. 4.3 National Thematic Inspection of Local Authorities His Majesty’s Inspectors visited West Dunbartonshire in September 2024 to inspect the local authority’s approach to school improvement. The inspection gathered evidence on the following themes: Improvement Planning and Reporting: How do local authorities support schools in improving the quality of education through effective improvement planning and standards and quality reporting ? Self Evaluation and Quality Assurance: How do local authorities assist schools in enhancing education quality through self- evaluation and quality assurance? Professional Learning: How do local authorities support schools in improving education quality through professional learning?
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Support and Challenge: How do local authorities provide universal support and challenge for all schools, and / or targeted support for specific schools to improve education quality? The engagement with inspectors provided a valuable opportunity for sharing West Dunbartonshire’s priorities for enhancing school performance, highlighting successes and discussing challenges. Inspectors reviewed a range of information about the local authority’s approach and programme for school improvement and engaged in meetings with central staff, school leaders, teachers and elected members. The overall findings will be published in a national report in January 2025. 4.4 1+2 Languages Update Two new developments are underway this term which aim to develop cultural understanding and global citizenship: Chinese Exchange Teachers Partnership Programme: West Dunbartonshire schools are participating in this programme in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde and the Confucius Institute for Scotland's Schools. Initially based at St. Peter the Apostle High School, Chinese exchange teachers will deliver lessons in basic Mandarin and provide cultural insights. Looking ahead, there are exciting opportunities for primary schools to join a project-based learning initiative focused on China and Chinese New Year, combining cross-curricular language lessons in Mandarin with rich cultural input. Sustainability Themed Language Planners: New planners integrating languages learning with the theme of sustainability are being developed. These planners align with the West Dunbartonshire Competencies and global sustainability goals, offering a deeper, more integrated approach to language learning 4.5 School Art Competition The Golden Jubilee Hospital invited West Dunbartonshire pupils to participate in a competition to produce art work on the theme of ‘Healthcare for the Future’. The winners of the competition were invited to the hospital to participate in a workshop and visit some of the new hospital facilities. The winning entries will be displayed at the hospital’s Endoscopy Suite. 5. People Implications 5.1 As reported to Council in June 2022 the Scottish Attainment Challenge funding enabled the provision of additional temporary (seconded) funded posts within the education service, partner council services and external providers. The annual (tapered) decrease in funding by 2026 will reduce the number of staff available to deliver in these areas with the seconded staff returning to their substantive posts, and any backfill element will cease. 5.2 The tapered decrease in funding by 2026 will reduce the number of Strategic Equity Funded posts: 2021/22 - 41.5 funded posts 2022/23 – 39.0 funded posts 2023/24 – 35.0 funded posts
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2024/25 – 28.0 funded posts 2025/26 – 24.07 funded posts 6. Financial and Procurement Implications 6.1 Funding from Scottish Government supports the work of the Strategy for Excellence and Equity. The Education Committee will be aware that a tapered reduction of Strategic Equity Funding was announced in 2022 reducing the annual income to West Dunbartonshire; and reducing the capacity of the service to deliver strategic priorities for excellence and equity. 6.2 Since its inception in 2015/16 to March 2024 the Council received £15,834,008 in funding. Please note that in financial year 2024/25 the funding available to West Dunbartonshire will have reduced by 26% compared to 2021/22.Table 6 provides the detail of the annual reduction in funding up to 2026: Table 6: 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 £2,043,815 Reduction of £298,018 (-15%) £1,745,797 Reduction of £298,018 (-17%) £1,447,779 Reduction of £298,018 (-21%) £1,149,761 Reduction of £298,018 (-26%) £851,743 7. Risk Analysis 7.1 Current budget constraints and the reduced funding model could impact negatively on sustained improvement in future academic sessions. However, we will continue to monitor this closely to inform future planning. 8. Equalities Impact Assessment 8.1 A full Equality Impact Assessment was submitted to Committee in March 2022 and identified that the decrease in funding will reduce capacity. Scope exists to mitigate impact with the development of the Strategy for Excellence and Equity 2023-2027. 9. Consultation a. Legal Services and the Section 95 Officer have been consulted in relation to the content of this report. 10. Strategic Assessment 10.1 This reports reflects the Council’s overarching priority to support our communities to thrive. Laura Mason Chief Education Officer November 2024
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___________________________________________________________________ Person to Contact: Julie McGrogan, Senior Education Officer, Department of Education, Learning and Attainment, Council Offices, 16 Church Street, Dumbarton, G82 1QL Email: julie.mcgrogan@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Appendix: Appendix 1: Excellence and Equity Improvement Plan 2024 - 2026 Background Papers: Equality Impact Assessment – March 2022 Wards Affected: All wards