Item 05 - Minutes of Previous Meeting
West Dunbartonshire Council · 24 June 2026
Back to Educational Services Committee — 24 June 2026 and its agenda
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EDUCATIONAL SERVICES COMMITTEE At a Hybrid Meeting of the Educational Services Committee held in the Civic Space, 16 Church Street, Dumbarton on Wednesday, 18 March 2026 at 10.01 a.m. Present: Provost Karen Murray Conaghan and Councillors Gurpreet Singh Johal, David McBride, Michelle McGinty, John Millar, Lawrence O’Neill, Martin Rooney, William Rooney, Gordon Scanlan, Hazel Sorrell and Sophie Traynor, and Mrs Barbara Barnes, Miss Faith Bhardwaj MSYP, Mr Gavin Corrigan, Miss Ellen McBride, Ms Joanne McLaren and Ms Julia Strang. Attending: Peter Hessett, Chief Executive; Gillian Hamilton, Chief Education Officer; Alison Bowers, Senior Education Officer – Early Learning and Attainment; Andrew Brown, Senior Education Officer – Policy, Performance and Resources; Claire Cusick, Senior Education Officer – Services for Children and Young People; Julie McGrogan, Senior Education Officer – Raising Attainment/Improving Learning; Michelle Lynn, Asset Manager; Joe Reilly, Business Unit Finance Partner (Education); Alan Douglas, Chief Officer – Regulatory and Regeneration (Legal Officer); and Scott Kelly, Committee Officer. Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Fiona Hennebry, Lauren Oxley and Clare Steel. Councillor Michelle McGinty in the Chair STATEMENT BY CHAIR – AUDIO STREAMING Councillor McGinty, Chair, advised that the meeting was being audio streamed and broadcast live to the internet and would be available for playback. DECLARATION OF INTEREST It was noted that there were no declarations of interest in any of the items of business on the agenda. RECORDING OF VOTES The Committee agreed that all votes taken during the meeting would be carried out by roll call vote to ensure an accurate record. ITEM 5
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MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of Meeting of the Educational Services Committee held on 26 November 2025 were submitted and approved as a correct record. OPEN FORUM The Committee noted that no open forum questions had been submitted by members of the public. LOCAL NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE FOR TEACHERS The Minutes of Meeting of the Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers held on 2 December 2025 were submitted and all decisions contained therein were approved. OPEN FORUM The Committee noted that no open forum questions had been submitted by members of the public. STRATEGY FOR EXCELLENCE AND EQUITY A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer providing, for information, an update on service priorities and the programme for schools and early learning centres arising from ongoing performance, evaluation and national education reform. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Raising Attainment/Improving Learning, the Senior Education Officer – Services for Children and Young People, and the Chief Education Officer, in further explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the Delivery Plan Update Report for session 2025–26; (2) to note progress in relation to equity and attainment outcomes; and (3) to note the planning priorities for schools in readiness for Education Reform 2025-2031. EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE UPDATE A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer informing of progress made to provide high quality Early Learning and Childcare in West Dunbartonshire Council.
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After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Early Learning and Attainment, and the Business Unit Finance Partner (Education), in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the progress to deliver high quality Early Learning and Childcare. SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES UPDATE REPORT A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer informing of progress on support to children, young people and families. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Services for Children and Young People, the Chief Education Officer and the Senior Education Officer – Policy, Performance and Resources, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the progress on plans to continue developing and improving support to children and families. Note: Miss Bhardwaj left the meeting during consideration of this item. SENIOR PHASE UPDATE A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer providing an update on the change in the national body providing qualifications, and our new policy supporting centres in investigating claims of malpractice in qualifications. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Policy, Performance and Resources, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the national change from Scottish Qualifications Authority to Qualifications Scotland; and (2) to note the introduction of our malpractice policy which helps our secondary schools ensure that guidance is accurately followed, and guard against the submission of work that is not of a candidate’s making. INITIAL SCHOOL LEAVER DESTINATIONS A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer providing an update on the Initial School Leaver Destinations of our young people who left school in summer 2025. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Policy, Performance and Resources in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to commend the work of staff, parents, partner agencies and the young people themselves.
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DEVELOPING OUR DIGITAL STRATEGY FOR EDUCATION A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer providing an update on plans to develop our Digital Strategy for Education, and an opportunity to participate in gathering stakeholder views. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Policy, Performance and Resources in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the plans to develop our Digital Strategy; and (2) to encourage participation in the gathering of views from stakeholders through the website. EDUCATION DELIVERY PLAN 2025/26 MID-YEAR PROGRESS REPORT A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer setting out the mid-year progress of the Education Delivery Plan 2025/26. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Raising Attainment/Improving Learning and the Senior Education Officer – Services for Children and Young People, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the progress achieved at mid-year. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES REVENUE BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORT 2025/26 TO 31 JANUARY 2026 (PERIOD 10) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Resources providing an update on the financial performance of the Educational Services revenue budget to 31 January 2026 (Period 10) and the forecast position at 31 March 2026. Having heard the Finance Business Partner (Education) in further explanation, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the contents of the report which showed that the 2025/26 revenue account had a projected adverse revenue variance of £0.773m (0.56% of the total budget); and (2) to note the current projected use of earmarked reserves of £0.359m. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CAPITAL BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORT 2025/26 TO 31 JANUARY 2026 (PERIOD 10) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Resources providing an update on the Educational Services capital programme to 31 January 2026 (Period 10).
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Having heard the Finance Business Partner (Education) in further explanation, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the current position of the 2025/26 Educational Services capital budget; and (2) to note the revised completion date in respect of one project detailed in Appendix 2 to the report. The meeting closed at 11.52 a.m.
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