Education Committee - 18/06/2001

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 18th June 2001.

 

Present:-

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Helen WRIGHT

Joe FITZPATRICK

Neil GLEN

George de GERNIER

George REGAN

Dave BEATTIE

John R LETFORD

Bruce D MACKIE

C D P FARQUHAR

Betty WARD

Roderick A J WALLACE

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Jill SHIMI

Kenneth J N GUILD

Fiona M GRANT

Ian BORTHWICK

Derek J SCOTT

David BOWES

Robin PRESSWOOD

John CORRIGAN

Mervyn J ROLFE

Richard BEATTIE

Iain M LUKE

Mr K ANDERSON

Andrew DAWSON

Jim BARRIE

Monsignor J CREEGAN

Allan PETRIE

Julia M STURROCK

Mr E BAILLIE

Willie W SAWERS

 

Ms J SMITH

 

Councillor de GERNIER, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st May 2001 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I REPORT OF HER MAJESTY'S INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION INTO THE EDUCATION FUNCTIONS OF DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL

 

Members were asked to note that the above report had been published and that political parties had been circulated with copies of the report.

 

The Committee were asked to note that Dundee City Council had become the first Local Authority in Scotland to have any of the Quality Indicators used by the Inspectorate in their analysis of performance rates in the highest 'very good' category. This was an outstanding achievement for the City Council and all members of staff in the Education Department were congratulated on this success.

 

It was reported all Local Authorities were to have inspections carried out by Her Majesty's Inspectorate over a five year period. Dundee would be revisited by the Inspectorate in around two years' time to check on progress in meeting the recommendations of the report. The Education Department were at present considering an action plan based on the recommendations contained in the report and it was the Director of Education's intention to report this action plan to the Committee's August meeting.

 

II MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SUB-COMMITTEE OF 5TH AND 6TH JUNE 2001

 

The minutes of the above meetings (Appendices I and II) were submitted for information.

 

III FOLLOW-UP TO THE STANDARD INSPECTION OF ST JOSEPH'S RC PRIMARY SCHOOL

 

There was submitted and noted the follow-up report of HM Inspectors of Schools on St Joseph's RC Primary School.

 

IV TENDERS RECEIVED

 

(a)(i)There was submitted Report No 357-2001 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision on acceptance thereof.

 

(i)HARRIS ACADEMY - AUTISTIC UNIT AT MAIN BUILDING

 

The Committee agreed acceptance of the offer which was received from A Shepherd and Sons to form an Autistic Unit at Harris Academy for the sum of 42,179.01 together with allowances of 7,665.00 giving a total of 49,844.01.

 

(ii) LAWSIDE ACADEMY - UPGRADE LIGHTING PHASE 1

 

The Committee agreed acceptance of the offer which was received from Dundee Contract Services for Phase 1 Lighting Upgrade at Lawside Academy for the sum of 31,953.38 together with allowances of 4,389.00 giving a total of 36,342.38.

 

(iii) CLEPINGTON PRIMARY SCHOOL - BOILER REPLACEMENT

 

The Committee agreed acceptance of the offer which was received from Taylor Mechanical Services Limited for Boiler Replacement at Clepington Primary School for the sum of 93,563.77 together with allowances of 12,736.00 giving a total of 106,299.77.

 

(iv) GLEBELANDS PRIMARY SCHOOL - BOILER REPLACEMENT

 

The Committee agreed acceptance of the offer received from Taylor Mechanical Services Limited for Boiler Replacement at Glebelands Primary School for the sum of 75,469.57 together with allowances of 8,319.00 giving a total of 83,788.57.

 

(a)(ii)There was submitted Report No 402-2001 by the City Architectural Services Officer informing the Committee of the tender agreed with Wernick Hire Limited, Dundee for the hire of Temporary Classroom Units at Morgan Academy, Lawton Road from July 2001 until August 2004 for the sum of 228,050.00 together with allowances of 45,082.00 giving a total of 273,112.00.

 

(b)There was submitted Report No 410-2001 by the City Engineer detailing a tender received and requesting a decision on acceptance thereof.

 

MACALPINE PRIMARY SCHOOL - REPAIRS TO WINDOW SILLS AND LINTELS (PHASE 1)

 

The Committee agreed acceptance of the offer received from Dundee Contract Services for Repairs to Window Sills and Lintels (Phase 1) at Macalpine Primary School for the sum of 60,382.20 together with allowances of 7,117.80 and fees of 8,000.00 giving a total of 75,500.00.

 

V GRANT AID TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO DUNDEE OUT OF SCHOOL CARE NETWORK

 

There was submitted Report No 407-2001 by the Director of Education seeking approval to provide support to Dundee Out of School Care Network to enable the Network to improve support to the sixteen Out of School Care Clubs and their staff.

 

The Committee noted the contents of the report and approved the award of 4,000 (1,000 per quarter) to Dundee Out of School Care Network during the financial year 2001/2002.

 

VI SUMMER HOLIDAY PLAY AND CARE FOR CHILDREN IN DOUGLAS IN JULY 2001

 

There was submitted Report No 409-2001 by the Director of Education seeking approval to provide funding to Douglas Neighbourhood and Library Centre to provide summer holiday care for children in Douglas.

 

The Committee noted the contents of the report and approved the award of 3,250 to Douglas Neighbourhood and Library Centre.

 

VII DEVELOPMENT OF LITTLE GYM TIME PROGRAMMES ACROSS EARLY YEARS SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AGED 0 TO 5 IN DUNDEE

 

There was submitted Report No 408-2001 by the Director of Education seeking approval to extend the Leisure and Parks Department Little Gym Time Physical Activity Programme across local areas in Dundee (with priority on SIP2 areas) and to further develop this programme to focus on provision for the 0 to 3 age range.

 

The Committee noted the contents of the report and approved the award of 64,000 over a three year period.

 

VIII EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SERVICE PLAN - UPDATE 2001

 

There was submitted Report No 404-2001 by the Director of Education which brought to the attention of the Committee progress on the key elements of the Education Department Service Plan for 1999/2002.

 

The Committee noted the progress on the Education Department Service Plan 1999/2002 contained in Appendix 1.

 

IX PRIMARY SPORTS DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATORS

 

There was submitted Report No 405-2001 by the Director of Education bringing to the attention of the Committee a proposal to appoint three Primary Sports Development Co-Ordinators as part of Sportscotland's Active Primary School Programme.

 

The Committee agreed to:-

 

(i) the proposal to undertake a pilot of the Active Primary School Programme;

 

(ii) approve the appointment of three Primary Sports Development Co-Ordinators; and

 

(iii)instruct the Director of Education to report progress of the pilot programme at an appropriate date.

 

X SCHOOL CO-ORDINATOR RAISING ACHIEVEMENT POSTS

 

There was submitted Report No 362-2001 by the Director of Education seeking approval to make permanent the ten School Co-Ordinator Raising Achievement posts in the City's secondary schools. The posts were currently held on a temporary basis occupied by postholders on an "acting-up" arrangement.

 

The Committee agreed to:-

 

(i)establish a permanent post of Assistant Head Teacher to be titled School Co-Ordinator Raising Achievement on the senior management team in each of the City's ten secondary schools from Monday, 13th August 2001; and

 

(ii)note the job outline for the post as set out in the appendix to the report.

XI TIME FOR TEACHING - ACTION PLAN

 

There was submitted Report No 361-2001 by the Director of Education advising the Committee on progress made in addressing issues identified in the "Time for Teaching - Improving Administration in Schools" report and seeking approval of the Action Plan to take forward remaining areas for development and improvement.

 

The Committee agreed to:-

 

(i)note the progress which has been made by the department in addressing issues identified in the "Time for Teaching - Improving Administration in Schools" report;

 

(ii)approve, in principle, the Draft Summary Action Plan attached as an appendix to the report;

 

(iii)approved the short-term secondment of two staff to co-ordinate the development and implementation of best administrative practice within schools and the preparation and introduction of a comprehensive departmental management information systems strategy which would address the short-term areas for improvement outlined in Section A of the Draft Action Plan;

 

(iv)note that the medium/long term areas for development and improvement (Draft Action Plan - Section B) required a major review of support staffing for schools and would have resource implications: the identification of appropriate funding would require to be addressed in the Revenue Budget Planning cycle; and

 

(v)note that areas for action proposed in Section C of the Draft Plan would require communication/consultation with the Scottish Executive and other agencies.

 

XII PRE-BUDGET STATEMENT - ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS

 

There was submitted Report No 393-2001 by the Director of Education in response to the requirement to publish locally information about what has been achieved through the allocation of the additional financial resources made available for schools following the Pre-Budget Statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in November 2000.

 

The Committee agreed to:-

 

(i)note the detailed information on the utilisation of the additional funding allocated to schools as set out in the appendix to the report; and

 

(ii)instruct the Director of Education to report to the Scottish Executive Education Department on how the grant had been spent.

 

XIII RECRUITMENT OF SCHOOL CROSSING PATROLLERS

 

As a result of a severe shortage of School Crossing Patrollers and difficulties in recruitment, the Director of Education and the Director of Personnel and Management Services recommended that the following action be taken to which the Committee agreed:-

 

(i)a shortened and simplified application form be drawn up based on the Council's standard form;

 

(ii)a large advertisement would be placed in the Courier and Evening Telegraph seeking recruits for School Crossing Patroller posts: the advertisement would detail dates and times where staff from the Education and Personnel and Management Services Departments will be on hand to give information about what the job entails etc: appropriate central locations be identified through the Neighbourhood Resources and Development Department: the advertisement would contain a tear-off reply slip with a freepost address and would, in addition, indicate that the posts be open to job share;

 

(iii)Radio Tay and Wave 102 would be asked to broadcast information relating to the above;

 

(iv)a letter be sent to all School Crossing Patrollers presently employed by the Education Department asking if they knew of anyone who might be interested in this type of employment and to pass his or her name onto the Head Teacher of the school at which they are based;

 

(v)investigations will be carried out into the possibility of creating a "flying squad" of School Crossing Patrollers who could combine emergency School Crossing Patrol duties with regular work as School Auxiliaries;

 

(vi)through "New Deal", investigations be carried out into the possibility of funding three trainee Facilities Assistant posts: the postholders would undergo basic training to match the job specification for a Facilities Assistant at the same time carrying out emergency School Crossing Patrollers' duties citywide as required; and

 

(vii)the Personnel and Management Services and Education Departments examine opportunities for this work to be added to the duties of existing part-time employees.

 

XIV SCHOOL ATTENDANCE DEFAULT

 

Reference was made to Article VI of the minute of meeting of the City council of 25th January 1996 when it was agreed that the Legal Manager should be formally appointed as Prosecutor for Education Prosecutions.

 

The main task performed by the Prosecutor was signing Complaints. In order to ensure that Complaints can continue to be signed during periods of annual leave, sickness absence etc it was recommended that the Committee agree that in future proceedings could be instituted on the Council's behalf by the Director of Support Services or the Legal Manager, whom failing, any of the Legal Team Leaders.

 

The Committee agreed to the above.

 

CONFIDENTIAL ITEM

 

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the public and press be excluded during consideration of the undernoted item on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of information which is exempt in terms of paragraph 5 of Schedule 7A to the Act.

 

XV REQUESTS FOR EDUCATION AT HOME

 

(a)There was submitted Report No 394-2001 by the Director of Education seeking approval for the provision of education at home for a Dundee pupil of secondary school age.

 

The Committee agreed to:-

 

(i) approve the proposal for education at home for the above child; and

 

(ii) instruct the Director of Education to monitor the child's progress at regular intervals.

(b)There was submitted Report No 403-2001 by the Director of Education seeking approval for the provision of education at home for three Dundee pupils of secondary school age.

 

The Committee agreed to:-

 

(i) approve the proposal for education at home for the above children; and

 

(ii)instruct the Director of Education to monitor the three children's progress at regular intervals.

 

 

 

 

GEORGE DE GERNIER, Convener.