Council endorses updated approach to improve attainment in Aberdeen schools
19 April 2018
Aberdeen City councillors today (Thursday 19 April) approved an approach to raising attainment in Aberdeen schools in line with the National Improvement Framework (NIF).
Last year, all local authorities in Scotland were tasked with submitting an improvement plan by September as their contribution to the national framework. A plan, aligned to National Excellence and Equity Agenda which aims to achieve equity in educational outcomes for all children and young people irrespective of their economic background, was submitted to the Scottish Government in August following a period of consultation.
The Scottish Government made amendments to the NIF in January and the Aberdeen City Council plan will be reviewed in line with those changes when the Plan for 2018/2019 is submitted in September 2018.
Councillor John Wheeler, Education Operational Delivery Convener, said: “It is important that our schools have clear advice on school improvement planning based on the statutory guidance as these plans help leadership teams drive improvements in attainment. The school improvement planning process has been aligned with the four priorities of the National Improvement Framework and our Local Outcome Improvement Plan, we have already aligned our Local Authority Business Plan and the Directorate Service Plan with the priorities contained in the NIF.
“We are also seeking to use our work to inform and shape the regional Northern Alliance improvement plan. All of the hard work we have undertaken will help deliver our commitment to improving attainment and achieving the best outcomes for our children and young people.”
The National Improvement Framework identifies 4 key priorities for action:
· Improvement in attainment, particularly literacy and numeracy
· Closing the attainment gap between most and least disadvantaged children
· Improvement in children and young people’s health and wellbeing
· Improvement in employability skills and sustained, positive school leaver destinations for all young people.
Regular reviews will take place to determine progress against the desired outcomes and will result in half-yearly updates.