Response 634962280

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Headteachers’ Charter

1. The Headteachers' Charter will empower headteachers as the leaders of learning and teaching and as the lead decision maker in how the curriculum is designed and provided in their schools. What further improvements would you suggest to enable headteachers to fulfil this empowered role?

I would suggest that the Head Teacher has hours built in to accommodate this improvement - selection process and interviews take time - admin support extended to cover other duties that the HT has.

2. The Headteachers' Charter will empower headteachers to develop their school improvement plans collaboratively with their school community. What improvements could be made to this approach?

Perhaps consult with or share with active Parent Council - not to approve but rather to engage with.

3. The Headteachers' Charter will set out the primacy of the school improvement plan. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach?

Unsure of this.

a. What are the advantages and disadvantages of headteachers being able to have greater input into recruitment exercises and processes adopted by their local authority?

I think this is hugely positive and welcome. An HT will understand and respond to their pupils' needs and ambitions for the school. The HT will be able to pinpoint the areas where help is needed and the type of individual who would fit into that role.
The disadvantage, as i see it, would be the time needed to influence this and this is where additional admin support would be usefully factored in.

b. What are the advantages and disadvantages of headteachers' ability to choose their team and decide on the promoted post structure within their schools?

This allows a degree of autonomy within the role and would discourage any complacency within teaching staff.

5. Should headteachers be able to decide how the funding allocated to their schools for the delivery of school education is spent?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know
If so, what is the best way of doing this?
I believe that the HT is the best person to identify those areas where money needs to be spent. However, the HT might be persuaded to spend money on the fabric of a building rather than what is inside it, and i would be concerned that this allows the local government to abdicate responsibility for the maintenance of a building.

6. How could local authorities increase transparency and best involve headteachers and school communities in education spending decisions?

Early working breakfasts to discuss, share and digest information before the school day starts but factor this in to working hours.

7. What types of support and professional learning would be valuable to headteachers in preparing to take up the new powers and duties to be set out in the Headteachers' Charter?

Could a specialist in financial planning be involved? A staged process and adequate admin support be provided, not to expect it could be carried with existing framework.

Parental and Community Engagement

8. Are the broad areas for reform to the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 correct?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know
Please explain your answer.
I think that the government should be promoting and targeting ALL parents across the sector from the earliest age that parental involvement is not an option, it is a requirement. In this way, parents will come to understand that all childrens' futures will enhance their own lives and support and reinforce the immediate community as well as the wider community.
The government should target advertising and suggest that ALL parents need to take a turn at sitting on Parent Councils and PTAs.

9. How should the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 be enhanced to ensure meaningful consultation by headteachers with parents on substantive matters of school policy, improvement planning and curriculum design?

unsure.

10. Should the duties and powers in relation to parental involvement apply to publicly funded early learning and childcare settings?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know
Please explain your answer.
Please refer back to my answer on question 8.

Pupil Participation

11. Should the Bill include a requirement that all schools in Scotland pursue the principles of pupil participation set out in Chapter 3?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know
Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know
Please explain your answer.
I think it is crucial for our wider community that children learn about participation from the earliest age. Only in this way can principles of fairness, tolerance, mutual respect, volunteering, be promoted.

12. What are your thoughts on the proposal to create a general duty to support pupil participation, rather than specific duties to create Pupil Councils, committees etc…?

This might be led by response from pupils themselves.

Regional Improvement Collaboratives

13. Should the Bill include provisions requiring each local authority to collaborate with partner councils and with Education Scotland in a Regional Improvement Collaborative?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know
Please explain your answer.
I would be concerned that more funding would be available to those schools in the Central Belt. The resources would be stretched due to geography in some regions.

14. Should the Bill require each Regional Improvement Collaborative to maintain and to publish annually its Regional Improvement Plan?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know
Please explain your answer.
Perhaps it might be better digested professionally and then improved upon.
There is a trend to publish widely and then point the finger at those appearing to fall below the set standard.

15. If we require Regional Improvement Collaboratives to report on their achievements (replacing individual local authority reports), should they be required to report annually?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know
Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know
Please explain your answer.
I believe so but please see my answer to question 14.

16. In making changes to the existing planning and reporting cycle, should we consider reducing the frequency of national improvement planning and the requirement on Ministers to review the National Improvement Framework?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know
Please explain your answer.
I think there should be continued reviews at national level.

Education Workforce Council for Scotland

17. Are the proposed purpose and aims of the Education Workforce Council for Scotland appropriate?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know
Please explain your answer.
Care should be taken to ensure that there is adequate support for those involved in learning.

18. What other purpose and aims might you suggest for the proposed Education Workforce Council for Scotland?

To recognise, from the outset, that there are different types of learning and achievement and that this should be recognised in each child and appropriate pathways taken.
Equal value to be placed upon apprenticeships as on academic institutions.

19. Are the proposed functions of the Education Workforce Council for Scotland appropriate?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know
Please explain your answer.
Please see above.

20. What other functions might you suggest for the proposed Education Workforce Council for Scotland?

I am unsure at this stage.

21. Which education professionals should be subject to mandatory registration with the proposed Education Workforce Council for Scotland?

Why not all and this includes engaging with professionals within the community who can offer advice, guidance and direction?

22. Should the Education Workforce Council for Scotland be required to consult on the fees it charges for registration?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know
Please explain your answer.
I am unsure about the fee to be levied.

23. Which principles should be used in the design of the governance arrangements for the proposed Education Workforce Council for Scotland?

I am unsure.

24. By what name should the proposed Education Workforce Council for Scotland be known?

A Taskforce for Life.

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