| Date -24 May 2005 | Return to previous page |
Innovative Approach for Improving Educational Attainment and Behaviour
Moray Council is leading the way in improving educational attainment and behaviour in schools with the introduction of a Solution Oriented Schools programme (SOS).
Beginning yesterday 23rd May, a week of training will take place in Moray for 22 national delegates from 17 local authorities in Scotland.
The training will enable each participating authority to become licensed to use the SOS programme in their schools. This is the first national training for the SOS programme and is being funded by the Scottish Executive.
The initiative is designed to address elements of all five of the National Priorities for education which are as follows –
· Achievement and Attainment
· Framework for Learning
· Inclusion and Equality
· Values and Citizenship
· Learning for Life
The programme has been developed, trialled and is being implemented in Moray and supports the implementation of recent legislation e.g. the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004 with a particular emphasis on the importance of multi-agency collaborative working and parental partnership. The programme has been developed over a period of two years by Deirdre Cavalcante and Kirsty Mackintosh of Moray Council’s Educational Psychology Service and Sandra Bruce of the Inclusion and Support Service in partnership with Ioan Rees an International Solution Oriented Trainer based in Wales.
Three primary schools in Moray are already running the SOS programme – Hythehill Primary, Lossiemouth, St Gerardine Primary, Lossiemouth and Keith Primary. On Friday 20th May staff at Lossiemouth High undertook a days training in the Solution Oriented approach. Various other schools have expressed an interest with many teachers having already undertaken extra twilight training. Staff in Forres schools are currently undertaking training with a view to introducing the programme throughout that area.
Keith Grammar was launched as a SOS school on Friday 20th May and the launch of Elgin High School as a SOS school will take place on Thursday 26th May.
Councillor Alasdair Urquhart, Chair of Moray Council’s Educational Services Committee said, “I am particularly pleased to welcome delegates on this training course to Moray as this authority has been instrumental in developing this new and exciting initiative as a pilot project in a number of our primary schools”.
Eric Scarborough, Head of Educational Support Services at Moray Council said, “The Solution Oriented approach is central to our commitment to including all children as active and valued members of school and the wider community. This initiative needs to be spread across the authority at all levels”.
A Moray Head Teacher said of the initiative, “It allows the staff to develop new skills and their own professional development and it empowers people who are already good practitioners”.
Ioan Rees, International Trainer and Co-developer of SOS said, “Moray should be recognised as a beacon authority for the Solution Oriented approach in education across the whole of the U.K.”
The SOS programme has already attracted interest beyond Scotland and the UK among leading educationalists. Professor John Murphy, University of Central Arkansas, visited Moray recently to learn about the programme and was impressed by the progress made so far. He commented that the programme “provides a powerful set of principles and strategies that can transform schools into places of possibility with vision, compassion and success for pupils and school personnel alike. The SOS programme provides user-friendly, step-by-step guidelines for creating respectful and effective learning environments”.
Contacts for further information -
Douglas Wilson, Inclusion and Support Services Manager – Tel 01343 557900
Chris Toon, Principal Educational Psychologist – Tel 01343 550999
Marion MacKay, Scottish Executive Press Officer - Tel 0131 2243070
Contact: Joyce Pirie, Public Relations Co-ordinator on 01343 563046