Item 09 - Strategy for Excellence and Equity

West Dunbartonshire Council · 20 March 2024
Back to Educational Services Committee — 20 March 2024 and its agenda

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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL
Report by Laura Mason, Chief Education Officer
Educational Services Committee: 20 March 2024
___________________________________________________________________
Subject: Strategy for Excellence and Equity
1. Purpose
1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide an update on progress with delivering
improved outcomes for attainment and equity; and implementing the service
Strategy for Excellence and Equity.
1.2 This report is for noting.
2. Recommendations
2.1 The Educational Services Committee is asked to note:
(a) the strong attainment and equity performance of West Dunbartonshire in
the Broad General Education against the national performance; and
(b) the range of improvement and development work delivered in the service
to support improved attainment and a narrowing of the attainment gap.
3. Background
3.1 In line with the Strategy for Excellence and Equity the Committee receives
regular reports on progress against this strategic priority.
3.2 The Strategy for Excellence and Equity (2023-2026) aims to build on the
improvement programme delivered across all educational establishments in
the period 2015- 2023.
3.3 West Dunbartonshire’s Strategy for Excellence and Equity supported by
funding from Scottish Government has improved outcomes in the Broad
General Education with West Dunbartonshire performing well compared to
national figures.
3.4 The approach to improve outcomes has been supported by Scottish
Government Scottish Attainment Challenge Funding 2015-2022; and since
2022 a revised tapered SAC funding model - the Strategic Equity Fund.
3.5 In December 2023 Scottish Government published statistics on the 2022/23
Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Levels. The statistics provide
information on the national performance in literacy and numeracy for pupils in
Primary 1, Primary 4, Primary 7 and Secondary 3 classes and for all pupils
based in special schools and units.
3.6 It is notable that West Dunbartonshire is maintaining a positive year on year
progress rate with attainment and equity outcomes; and is outperforming the
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national figures in a number of measures. A summary of the Council’s key
successes against the national profile in the components of literacy and
numeracy at Primary 1, Primary 4, Primary 7,  Secondary 3 is provided at
Appendix 1 to this report.
3.7  The delivery of improved outcomes and a narrowing of the attainment gap
has been achieved through strong collaborative work between officers and
schools. West Dunbartonshire’s year on year progress with attainment and
equity outcomes is supported by an Improvement Framework. The
Framework provides a range of improvement approaches designed around
national quality indicators and benchmarks for education. The Framework is
delivered by officers through regular meetings with headteachers; a
professional learning programme and visits to schools and early learning and
childcare centres to monitor quality and performance.   
3.8  The performance of the Improvement Framework is monitored by the Chief
Education Officer at the West Dunbartonshire Improvement Board.
4.0       Main Issues
4.1 West Dunbartonshire Improvement Framework 
In the period January to March officers have worked with headteachers to
monitor quality using national quality indicators. Key focus areas in this period
are:  
• planning and tracking attainment in literacy and numeracy;
• assessment and moderation;
• additional support needs planning and review processes;
• design and use of the learning environments; and
• predictions for attainment and equity outcomes by June 2024.
4.1.1   Establishment Performance Meetings: one to one meetings have been
conducted with all headteachers to review centrally produced school
Establishment Performance Reports. Headteachers report they value the
opportunity for school data to be analysed by the central team and find the
meetings as being supportive of their improvement work to raise attainment.
4.1.2  Data Leads Network: the monthly Data Leads Network introduced this
session continues to improve the data literacy of staff. A mid- session
evaluation of the Data Leads Network showed that the Data Leads feel more
confident using data for improvement at individual pupil, cohort and school
level; and is supporting consistency in the range and use of data for
improvement in schools.
4.2 Excellence and Equity Development Workstreams
4.2.1   Digital Inclusion: an exciting pupil enterprise project aimed at developing
skills for work is under development. The project, plans to create an in-house
Chromebook repair programme. The programme aims to address the costs of
Chromebook repair and also provide a stimulating real life environment for
developing student skills and confidence for work. Under supervision,
students will be responsible for the operation of the programme including

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planning, repair, customer relations, logistics, stock control, marketing and
accounts. This will help offset some of the costs associated with repairing or
replacing Chromebook devices with minor faults / damage.  
4.2.2  Literacy Update: the next phase of implementing West Dunbartonshire’s new
literacy programme ‘Come Read with Me @WDC’ is focussing on producing
curriculum planners and teaching notes. A working group has consulted
headteachers to identify pilot schools to trial the programme in the summer
term. 3 schools will pilot the programme in April / May. 
4.2.3   Maths and Numeracy: a working group of primary and secondary staff are
working to develop a teaching framework for use across all schools and early
learning centres in West Dunbartonshire. Teachers in P4-S2 are engaged in a
programme of professional learning to support consistent teaching
approaches across primary and secondary. The training programme will be
extended next session to include teachers working at the early stages through
to P3. 
4.2.4 Health and Wellbeing: an audit of the curriculum is being conducted to
review the content of delivery across all establishments. Information will be
used to inform a refresh of the strategy to be completed by June 2024. 
Phase 2 of the West Dunbartonshire’s 'Make Space Connect' pupil leadership
project is underway. The project provides resources for pupil leaders’ who will
work with small groups of peers on creative activities focussing on building
resilience and peer friendships. The learning materials have been produced
by pupils in three primary schools. The project is being piloted in 4 primary
schools with the aim of rolling out the project to all schools next session. 
4.2.5 Learning for Sustainability: A revision of the service strategy and action
plan is underway in response to a refreshed national Learning for
Sustainability Action Plan. A national aspiration has been set for every
learning setting in Scotland to become sustainable by 2030. The National
Action Plan has been strengthened in response to the voices of children and
young people who have called for Learning for Sustainability, together with
climate change, social justice, global citizenship, outdoor learning, equalities
and rights, to be greater part of their daily learning experiences. Committee
will receive regular reports on the progress of the service strategy and
associated action planning. 
West Dunbartonshire schools have committed to achieving Green Flag
awards in all schools by 2025. Green Flags are awarded to schools for their
exceptional commitment to implementing environmental education and
sustainability initiatives through the Eco-Schools programme. Schools must
demonstrate significant progress and sustained dedication in addressing
environmental issues while engaging learners and the wider
community. Training for Pupil Ambassadors and lead staff has been arranged
for February in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful

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4.2.6 1+2 Languages:  all West Dunbartonshire schools continue to offer a second
language in French or Spanish throughout the BGE, aligning with local and
national policies. An exciting development this term has been the active
participation in Scotland Languages Week. In preparation, a vibrant online
multimedia e-book, featuring activities, videos, resources, and music in
French and Spanish, was curated for a West Dunbartonshire ‘Languages
Carnival’. Monitoring the quality of provision in all schools has been
completed by the 1+2 Languages Co-ordinator and demonstrates our
commitment to fostering a linguistically diverse and enriching educational
environment in West Dunbartonshire. 
4.2.7 Assessment and Moderation: Assessment and Moderation Leaders have
been appointed in every establishment in West Dunbartonshire. The Leaders’
have completed four professional learning sessions on high quality
assessment and moderation and are leading in-service and collegiate
sessions in their own establishments. This work aims to deliver consistent
planning and delivery of high impact assessment practice in all schools.
Baseline and post learning questionnaires have indicated that teacher
confidence and understanding continue to improve as a result of this focus on
professional learning and assessment pedagogy.
4.2.8  The number of children and young people benefiting from the Instrumental
Music Service (IMS) has grown this session:
• WDC Music Service Christmas Concert provided opportunity for more
children and young people than ever to perform at Clydebank Town
Hall. 200 children and young people performed a range of festive
pieces delivered by 11 ensembles (brass, strings and woodwind); and
9 solo performances.
• Three new Youth Music Initiative projects have been delivered to 1338
pupils this year. The projects have received very positive feedback
from staff and pupils. Children in primary schools have enjoyed
sessions ranging from ukulele lessons, the Let’s Sing project delivered
by the National Youth Choir Of Scotland and music producing with a
local company SKapade.
A major focus of IMS work in the period January to March is supporting  
Senior Phase pupils to prepare for their for SQA Music practical exams which
take place before the Easter holidays. This year 225 Senior Phase pupils are
engaged in tuition lessons from the service. 
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:

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• 2021/22  - 41.5 funded posts
• 2022/23 – 39.0 funded posts
• 2023/24 – 35.0 funded posts
• 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.

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Laura Mason
Chief Education Officer
March 2024
___________________________________________________________________
Person to Contact: Julie McGrogan, Senior Education Officer, Department of
Education, Learning and Attainment, Council Offices, 16
Church Street, Dumbarton, G82 1QL
Telephone No: 01389 737316
Email: julie.mcgrogan@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Appendix: 1. WDC BGE Performance Report December 2023
Background Papers: Equality Impact Assessment – March 2022
Wards Affected: All wards