Argyll and Bute Education Service - Progress and Impact Report 2025-2026 and Strategic Plan 2026-2029
Argyll and Bute Council · 27 August 2026
Back to Community Services Committee — 27 August 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE EDUCATION 27 AUGUST 2026 ARGYLL AND BUTE EDUCATION SERVICE – PROGRESS AND IMPACT REPORT 2025-2026 AND STRATEGIC PLAN 2026-2029 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The purpose of this report is to update Committee on the progress made by the Education Service in achieving the priorities included in the Argyll and Bute Strategic Plan for 2024-26 (2025-26 update) presented at Community Services Committee in August 2025, outline Service priorities for 2026-2029 and improvement actions for 2026-2027. 1.2 It is recommended that the Community Services Committee: • Note the progress made with respect to priority actions within the 2024-2026 Education Strategic Plan (2025-2026 update) outlined in the Education Service Progress and Impact Report 2024-2026. • Approve the Education Service Progress and Impact Report 2025-2026 and Strategic Plan 2026-2029 (Appendix 1). • Approve the publication of the Education Strategic Plan 2026-2029 and The Education Service Progress and Impact Report 2025-2026 on the Council Website. • Approve the submission of the Education Strategic Plan 2026-2029 and The Education Service Progress and Impact Report 2025-2026 to Scottish Government.
Page 2
ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE EDUCATION 27 AUGUST 2026 ARGYLL AND BUTE EDUCATION SERVICE – PROGRESS AND IMPACT REPORT 2025-2026 AND STRATEGIC PLAN 2026-2029 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 Section 13 of the statutory guidance of the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000 (‘the 2000 Act’) as amended by section 4 of the Education (Scotland) Act 2016 (‘The 2016 Act’), enables the Scottish Ministers to issue guidance to education authorities in relation to their functions under sections 3 to 8 of the 2000 Act, and education authorities are required to have regard to this guidance in discharging these functions. 2.2 The guidance focuses in particular on education authority duties which are designed to enhance equity and support improvement within schools and across education authorities. 2.3 Sections 3F, 3H and 6 of the 2000 Act: impose duties on education authorities in relation to the annual planning and reporting; namely the publishing of an Annual Education Plan. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the Community Services Committee: 3.1 Note the progress made with respect to priority actions within the 2024-2026 Education Strategic Plan (2025-2026 update) outlined in the Education Service Progress and Impact Report 2024-2026. 3.2 Approve the Education Service Progress and Impact Report 2025-2026 and Strategic Plan 2026-2029 (Appendix 1). 3.3 Approve the publishing of the Education Strategic Plan 2026-2029 and The Education Service Progress and Impact Report 2025-2026 on the Council Website.
Page 3
3.4 Approve the submission of the Education Strategic Plan 2026-2029 and The Education Service Progress and Impact Report 2025-2026 to Scottish Government. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 The Education Service must prepare and publish an annual plan setting out the steps we have taken, over the course of the planning period: • to reduce inequalities of outcome experienced by pupils as a result of socioeconomic disadvantage, including the use of Strategic Equity Funding (SEF) and Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) • to comply with the duties imposed on it by section 3B(3) (to seek and have regard to the views of the persons listed in section 3B(4) and to provide any advice and support the authority thinks appropriate to those persons in relation to its consideration of decisions of a strategic nature about the carrying out of its functions relating to school education; • in pursuance of the National Improvement Framework for Scottish Education; and • to set out any educational benefits for pupils that the Authority considers have resulted from taking these steps. 4.2 The Education Strategic Plan 2026-2029 and Education Service Progress and Impact Report 2025-2026 has been prepared in compliance with the statutory guidance and contains the following sections: • Progress towards achieving the priorities of the National Improvement Framework. • Education Service Strategic Plan 2026-2029 • Local Authority Stretch Aims 2023-2026. 4.3 In light of the national reform agenda for education, our plan and report take into account the recommendations from recent national publications including: • It’s Our Future- Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment, • All Learners in Scotland Matter: Findings from the National Discussion on Scottish Education, • Putting Learners at the Centre: Towards a Future Vision for Scottish Education, • OECD Independent Review of Curriculum for Excellence, • Support for Learning: All our children and All their potential, • Fit for the Future: developing a post-school learning system to fuel economic transformation, • Upper-secondary education student assessment in Scotland • Pupil Equity Funding 2025 Report
Page 4
• National Summary Report – Impact of the Attainment Scotland Fund • Curriculum, Qualifications and Assessment Reform: progress and next steps • Primary school inspection findings: academic year 2024 to 2025 | HM Chief Inspector reports | Inspection reports | His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in Scotland • Secondary school inspection findings for 2024 to 2025 • National Improvement Framework plan 2025: update on activity - gov.scot 4.4 The plan and report also take account of the findings from our Collaborative Improvement Activity with the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES) and Education Scotland, the HMIE Thematic Inspection on local authority approaches to school improvement planning, scrutiny activity led by the Education Team, and external scrutiny of settings carried out by HMIE. As well as the independent review of Argyll and Bute’s Education Service, Connecting for Success – Shaping the Future, conducted from May to September 2025. Link to Collaborative Improvement Report: Argyll-and-Bute-Report.docx Link to Thematic Inspection Report: Local authority approaches to supporting school improvement | National thematic inspections | HM Chief Inspector reports and guidance | Inspection and review | Education Scotland Link to Connecting for Success – Shaping the Future Review: argyll- bute.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/s225664/Appendix A - Connecting for Success - Shaping the Future - Final.pdf 4.5 The Education Strategic Plan 2026–2029 has been developed in the context of an evolving national education reform agenda. Recent national publications and inspection evidence consistently highlight the need to strengthen alignment between curriculum, assessment and skills development; improve the consistency of learning and teaching; and accelerate progress in closing the poverty-related attainment gap. National thematic inspection findings and system-level reviews further emphasise the importance of robust self- evaluation, effective leadership at all levels and the use of high-quality data to inform improvement activity. The priorities and improvement actions set out within Appendix 1 have been informed by these national drivers and are designed to ensure a continued focus on equity, inclusion and improved outcomes for all children and young people across Argyll and Bute. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 The planning and reporting processes at school and Education Service levels are designed to produce robust, consistent and transparent data of the work of the Education Authority, to improve our understanding of what works well and, ultimately, drive forward priorities that will improve outcomes for the children and young people of Argyll and Bute.
Page 5
5.2 The Education Strategic Plan 2026-2029 and Education Service Progress and Impact Report 2025-2026 presented to Community Services Committee has been prepared in compliance with the requirements set out in the Statutory Guidance accompanying the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000 taking full account of the requirement to • Analyse the interim outcomes of the 2024-2026 Education Strategic Plan (2025-2026 update) and prepare and publish the annual report of progress and impact as soon as possible after 27 August 2026; • Enables us to respond to the national context for education and in particular the anticipated reform agenda and associated reviews and publications. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy - The development of the Education Service Progress and Impact Report 2025-2026 and the Education Strategic Plan 2026-2029 supports the central purpose of the Scottish Government and the delivery of national outcomes. The framework supports delivery on the National Improvement Framework priorities, the Argyll and Bute Corporate Plan 2023-2027 priorities and the Our Children, Their Future – Thriving Together key priorities. 6.2 Financial - none 6.3 Legal - The Council is required to prepare and publish the Education Strategic Plan annually as directed within the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000, set out within the supporting Statutory Guidance published March 2017. 6.4 HR - none 6.5 Customer Service - This report provides elected members with an overview of service performance for 2025-2026 and priorities for 2026-2029. 6.6 Risk - There are potential reputational risks for the Council should it fail to meet statutory planning and reporting requirements. 6.7 Climate Change - none 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty - none 6.9 Equalities - protected characteristics - The Education Strategic Plan sets out the Council’s response, delivered by Education Services to section 3B of the 2000 Act which imposes duties on education authorities which are designed to promote a reduction in inequalities of educational outcome experienced by pupils as a result of socioeconomic disadvantage. 6.10 Consumer Duty - none 6.11 Island Communities - none 6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Article 3 - Adults must do what’s best for me. When adults make decisions,
Page 6
they should think how they affect children and do what is best for them. Article 28 – I have the right to an education. Children and young people have the right to education no matter who they are. Article 29 - I have the right to an education which develops my personality, talents and abilities. Douglas Hendry - Executive Director with responsibility for Education Policy Lead for Education – Councillor Kieron Green July 2026 For further information contact: Jennifer Crocket Chief Education Officer/Head of Education – Wellbeing, Inclusion and Achievement Jennifer.Crocket@argyll-bute.gov.uk Wendy Brownlie Head of Education – Performance and Improvement Wendy.Brownlie@argyll-bute.gov.uk Simone McAdam Education Manager Simone.McAdam@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Argyll and Bute Education Service Progress and Impact Report 2025- 2026 and Strategic Plan 2026- 2029