Community Services Spokesperson’s Report - Education and Lifelong Learning

1. Our Learning Culture – The Role of Coaching and Mentoring

Throughout this session the education service has been building a capacity to develop coaching skills within schools and across the service as a whole. This development has been funded by the Scottish Executive with a grant of £35,000 and is central to the Executive’s drive to further develop leadership capacity in Scottish education.

This project was progressed on the basis of consultation and collaborative working between colleagues in and West Dumbarton education services. We have piloted the practice of coaching with school staff, directorate and quality improvement team members.

Schools involved in Argyll and Bute were; Dunoon Grammar, Hermitage Academy, Islay High, Rothesay Academy, Rothesay Primary and Lochgilphead Primary.

Six centrally based staff were identified from Argyll and Bute and 6 from West Dumbarton, who would act as a resource to support the training of school based cohorts. From the above schools, 33 staff were involved from each authority. Schools ‘self selected’ and centrally based staff volunteered their involvement.

In addition to this, 12 staff from Argyll and Bute and 4 from West Dunbartonshire are currently undertaking a Diploma in Coaching and Mentoring through the Institute of Leadership and Management with Munro Training providing the taught component.

The above staff will form the core capacity for sustainable development of the initiative across both authorities. The external critical friend to the project stipulated by the Scottish Executive noted in his evaluation that;

“To date, based on the evidence to hand, this project has been a resounding success…the project management team has learned and developed though the process of delivering…the learning gained is being applied n practice ”.

2. Retiring Teachers

A presentation was held in Inveraray Conference Centre on Friday 22 nd June, in order to present Quaichs to 7 teachers who are retiring after over 25 years of continuous local authority service each. Their service ranges from 28 years to 36 years.

Carol Walker, Head of Pre School and Primary Education, and Ronnie Gould, Head of Secondary and Pupil Support, were in attendance to hand over the Quaich’s and to offer their congratulations. Only 4 of the 7 teachers were able to attend the actual ceremony, but a full list of those retiring is detailed below;

Roddy McDowall - Former Head Teacher of Rothesay Primary School and now retiring from the post of Education Project Manager.

Freda McGregor - Retiring from the post of Head Teacher, Lismore Primary School.

Brian Logan - Retiring from the post of Principal Teacher, Physics, .

Dorothy Scriven - Retiring from the post of Art Teacher, Dunoon Grammar School.

Kenneth Stewart - Retiring from post of Principal Teacher, Modern Languages, .

James McDougall - Retiring from post of Principal Teacher, Pupil Support, Islay High School.

Bill Miller – Retiring from post of Head Teacher, John Logie Baird Primary School.

I would like to extend my appreciation to the above teachers, who have shown such dedication and hard work over so many years, and would like to wish them luck in their retirement.

3. Kintyre Schools Pipe Band Entertain the Queen

The Kintyre Schools Pipe Band was given the honour of leading the procession from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood on Saturday 30 th June on the occasion of the State Opening of the Scottish Parliament. The Pipe Band later played within the Parliament in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen.

4. Success in National Mathematical Challenge

Two pupils from Oban High School, Richard Thomson and Angus Sinclair, were prize winners in the National Mathematical Challenge, which is organised by the University of Glasgow. The competition attracts entries from schools across Scotland. Richard won a Silver Certificate and Angus won a Bronze Certificate. Both pupils received their awards during a ceremony held at University of Glasgow on 13 th June. Well done!

5. Rothesay Academy Prize Giving

On Friday 29 th June I attended Rothesay Academy’s annual Prize Giving Ceremony, which was held in the Pavilion. On what was the last Prize Giving prior to entering the new joint school campus, Charles Boyle, a former pupil of Rothesay Academy, who now successfully runs a business, was in attendance to give an inspiring speech to the pupils about making the correct choices for their future. Well done to all pupils who picked up an award.

Councillor Isobel Strong Education and Lifelong Learning Spokesperson August 2007