Education Committee - 21/02/2005

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 21st February 2005.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th February 2005 was held as read.

Prior to the commencement of business the Convener and Lord Provost congratulated all pupils who had helped to raise the sum of 26,842 for the Tsunami Appeal.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTE OF MEETING OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SUB-COMMITTEE OF 18TH JANUARY 2005

The minute of the above meeting (Appendix I) was submitted for information.

II PUPIL ACHIEVEMENT IN DUNDEE SCHOOLS

There was submitted Report No 130-2005 by the Director of Education regarding attainment in Dundee schools, outlining progress of current strategies to improve pupil achievement, and suggesting how these strategies might be further developed to increase their impact.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) reaffirm its commitment to ensure that the education service provides the opportunity for every pupil in Dundee to maximise their individual potential;

(ii) accept the recommendations for future developments contained in the paper Attainment in Dundee Schools 2003-2004;

(iii) instruct the Director of Education to arrange visits by Members of the Education Committee to see initiatives to raise attainment currently being implemented in Schools in Dundee and in other Education Authorities;

(iv) instruct the Director of Education to arrange an Open Voice event for Members of the Education Committee;

(v) establish a Best Value Review Group to identify measures that would significantly improve Education Attainment in Dundee Schools and its terms of reference be that as set out in the Appendix of this minute (Appendix II);

(vi) instruct the Best Value Review Group to further develop the recommendations in the paper Attainment in Dundee Schools 2003-2004 appended to Report No 130-2005;

(vii) instruct the Best Value Review Group to take account of the outcomes of the Open Voice consultations with Education Committee Members, Head Teachers, Parents and Pupils and;

(viii) instruct the Best Value Review Group to report back to the Education Committee and the Best Value Sub-Committee as soon as they were in a position to make recommendations.

III LEARNING TOGETHER IN DUNDEE - A STRATEGY TO IMPROVE LEARNING AND TEACHING

There was submitted Report No 131-2005 by the Director of Education informing the Committee that the Education Department have incorporated a number of initiatives on learning into a single strategy to improve learning and teaching, called Learning Together in Dundee.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) the strategy for Learning Together in Dundee;

(ii) require the Director of Education to arrange suitable training in the strategy for teachers, pupils and parents; and

(iii) instruct the Director of Education to implement Learning Together in Dundee in all classrooms in all Dundee schools by 2008 and to provide updates to the Education Committee as appropriate.

IV GLEBELANDS PRIMARY SCHOOL FOLLOW-THROUGH INSPECTION

There was submitted and noted the follow-through report on Glebelands Primary School.

V TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 136-2005 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requiring a decision thereon:-

(i) CRAIGIE HIGH SCHOOL - HEAT RECOVERY UNITS: REPLACEMENT OF AIR HANDLING SECTIONS

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer received from Scotia Energy Saving Systems Limited, Glenrothes, for the replacement of air handling sections of Craigie High School's heat recovery units for 37,795, together with allowances of 8,470, giving a total of 46,265.

The Committee noted that Scotia Energy Saving Systems Limited, Glenrothes, had listed the undernoted sub-contractor:-

VI DUNDEE SCHOOLS PPP PROJECT - OUTCOME OF THE FORMAL CONSULTATION PROCESS IN RESPECT OFDECANT ARRANGEMENTS FOR POWRIE PRIMARY SCHOOL

There was submitted Report No 123-2005 by the Director of Education detailing representations made during the formal publication and consultation exercise on decant arrangements for Powrie Primary School.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) note the content of the findings from the consultation as detailed in paragraph 6.4 of the report;

(ii) instruct the Director of Education to proceed with the implementation of the decant proposals for Powrie Primary School; and

(iii) consult with the trade unions on staffing issues arising from the early merger.

VII MAINTENANCE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION EQUIPMENT

There was submitted Report No 121-2005 by the Director of Education seeking approval to accept a tender for the maintenance of physical education equipment for schools and other sites in Dundee City Council, Angus Council and Perth and Kinross Council.

The Committee agreed to award the contract for the maintenance of physical education equipment for the period 1st April 2005 to 31 March 2007 to Kinder Sports Limited, 16 Cloverfield, Milngavie, Glasgow, G62 7LN.

VIII EDUCATION (ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR LEARNING) (SCOTLAND) ACT 2004 - CONSULTATION ON DRAFTCODE OF PRACTICE, DRAFT POLICY PAPERS AND DRAFT ASSOCIATED REGULATIONS

There was submitted Report No 122-2005 by the Director of Education outlining the response from Dundee City Council to key documents drafted by the Scottish Executive to support the new Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) note the contents of the report; and

(ii) approve the response to the Scottish Executive.

IX CLOSURE OF LOCAL AUTHORITY NURSERY EDUCATION SERVICES

There was submitted Report No 125-2005 by the Director of Education seeking approval to close nursery provision at Cotton Road Nursery School and Sidlaw View Nursery Class from 30th June 2005 and Mossgiel Nursery Class from 30th June 2006.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) close Cotton Road Nursery School and Sidlaw View Primary School Nursery Class from 30th June 2005 and to close Mossgiel Primary School Nursery Class from 30th June 2006;

(ii) retain Nursery provision at Mossgiel for those children who are currently enrolled only for the school year August 2005 to June 2006; and

(iii) give priority to children affected by the closures for placement in the nursery of their parent's choice.

X PROVISION OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO NEW REGISTERED CHILDMINDERS IN DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 126-2005 by the Director of Education seeking approval to continue to provide funding to newly registered childminders in Dundee.

The Committee approved the award of 200 funding to childminders.

XI PROVISION OF FUNDING SUPPORT TO DUNDEE OUT OF SCHOOL CARE NETWORK AND STEPPING STONES ANDSPECTRUM

There was submitted Report No 128-2005 by the Director of Education seeking approval to award funding to Dundee Out of School Care Network in order to continue to support sustainability of twenty Out of School Care Clubs and to Stepping Stones and Spectrum to support the provision of out of school care for children on the autistic spectrum.

The Committee approved proposals to continue and expand the provision of business support and development advice to Out of School Care Clubs and their Management Committees and to continue and extend provision of out of school care on the autistic spectrum.

XII RETAINING RESERVED PLACES IN SCHOOLS 2005-2006

Reference was made to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th February 2001 where approval was given to retain reserved places in certain schools to accommodate children moving into the catchment area during the school year.

There was submitted Report No 129-2005 by the Director of Education reviewing the allocation of reserved places and proposing an allocation of reserved places for Session 2005-2006.

The Committee agreed to approve the proposals to reserve places in schools as set out in Appendix I of the report for Session 2005-2006.

XIII ICT BROADBAND NETWORKING FOR SCHOOLS

There was submitted Report No 133-2005 by the Director of Education and Head of Information Technology seeking approval to commission the installation of wireless broadband networking for five secondary schools.

The Committee authorised the Head of Information Technology to proceed with the procurement and installation of wireless broadband technology for five secondary schools in the current financial year and investigate and report on the feasibility of implementing this technology in the remaining secondary schools and the City's primary schools in future financial years.

KEVIN KEENAN, Convener.

APPENDIX II

BEST VALUE REVIEW PROGRAMME

TERMS OF REFERENCE PAPER