Education department builds on improvements

Moray Council’s education department has continued to build on improvements following a report published in May 2006 which highlighted the significant progress which the department had made in addressing recommendations contained in the original report of 2004.

Now, in their latest report, HMIe state that further progress has been made in a number of areas.

Of the 10 areas selected by the inspectors as quality indicators, eight were evaluated as good and two as adequate.

Educational services director Donald Duncan and the department’s heads of service had set out an agenda for improvement which emphasised leadership, learning and inclusion and the focus on these was beginning to impact positively on the culture within the authority.

“Since the last inspection the authority had become significantly more outward looking and had introduced positive developments on aspects of learning and leadership and had built on and improved further its culture of inclusion,” said the report.

Elected members and senior officers had shown a strong commitment to the fulfilment of the authority’s vision, values and aims, which provided appropriate guidance for the education service.

“The process of establishing the vision statement and aims had created a unity of purpose across all service groups,” said the inspectors.

“They were well focused on social equality, inclusion and on promoting the wider achievements of children, young people and their families.”

The report said the authority had placed a high priority on improving education provision through opportunities for professional development and the education department’s quality improvement team was increasingly making an impact on improvements through focused support and challenge.

“Primary head teachers were particularly positive about this professional working relationship.

“The benefits of partnership working were recognised at all levels and were particularly impacting on improving provision for vulnerable learners.”The key strengths identified by HMIe are:

• The well planned and comprehensive programme for continuous professional development
• The strong ethos of inclusion, support for vulnerable learners and their broader achievement
• The impact of the parental involvement strategy in preparing staff and parents for working in partnership
• Successful Active School sports programme in increasing the participation of young people in physical activity

 

The inspection report identifies three main points for action:   

 

• Continue to improve the quality of attainment, particularly at S5 and S6
• Improve approaches to self-evaluation and ensure that head teachers and senior promoted staff take responsibility for monitoring and evaluating performance
• Continue to improve the strategic direction of the authority’s work to ensure greater impact on all learners

 

The report said the council had demonstrated a capacity for continuous improvement in several aspects of its work and effective steps had been taken in promoting the vision for learning and inclusion.

It concluded: “While there continued to be a need for the authority to provide more strategic direction and ensure consistency in the quality of education, there was evidence of continuing improvement and a more secure base for the future.

“The authority should build on its identified success to ensure the continuous improvement of education within Moray Council.”

Moray Council has been asked to prepare an action plan indicating how it will address the main findings of the report and HM inspectors will maintain contact and make a return visit within two years to evaluate further progress.

The council’s educational services director, Donald Duncan, said he was pleased the inspectors had recognised the quality of service in Moray.

“We have continued to make progress since this inspection started in the middle of last year and I am confident that when HMIe return in two years’ time they will see the significant impact of many of the initiatives which our staff have put in place over the past three years.

“I congratulate all staff and stakeholders who have contributed to this continuing success.”

Councillor Jeff Hamilton, joint chairman of the education and social services committee, said: “I am delighted that HMIe have acknowledged the significant improvements in Moray education service.

“I am confident that by working together, we will continue to see further improvements in the areas highlighted by HMIe.

“I wish to thank the director and all staff for their commitment and professionalism and look forward to furthering the progress in the coming years.”

Chief executive Alastair Keddie said he acknowledged the strengths of the education service and said it was further evidence of the quality of service which the people of Moray could expect.

He praised the work and the commitment of staff and expressed confidence that the council would meet all the points for action.