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Blueprint for Education 2010

In December 2009 the full council agreed a Blueprint Consultation Plan and instructed the Schools Service to begin gathering information on a number of options for Shetland Schools in the future.  The first stage of this process is to meet with parents, pupils and staff.  Later stages may include public meetings.  Details of the plan, future consultation and the options put forward for consideration by the Schools Service are available following the links below.  Background information to the current Blueprint consultation is available in the Report to Council.

26 Nov 2009 Report sent to Council Report to Services Committee 26 11 09
  Consultation Plan Consultation Plan Final Booklet
  Options Options Final Booklet Central Mainland; Lerwick & Bressay; North Mainland; Skerries; South Mainland; Unst; West Mainland; Whalsay; Yell
  Curriculum for Excellence Parent Leaflet

Curriculum for Excellence - Parent Leaflet

Further national information about Curriculum for Excellence can be found here

  Informal Consultation Presentation Informal Presentation Generic

 

If a parent has not received a Comments or Feedback Form, please contact Schools Service, Hayfield House, Hayfield Lane, Lerwick, Shetland. ZE1 0QD or email blueprintforeducation@shetland.gov.uk and we will post a copy

Please use the following link to navigate to Informal Consultation Meetings

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History

Report to Initial Blueprint Consultation.

On the 12 February 2009 a report was submitted to the Services Committee for consideration. A copy of the report can be found using the link below:

The report to the Services Committee on 12 February 2009 can be found here

Documents relating to the Blueprint Consultation exercise:

Blueprint Analysis Report - Final Version - Blueprint Analysis Report - Final version

All comments from Individual Forms - ALL COMMENTS FROM INDIVIDUAL FORMS

Group Statistics by Cluster Area - GROUP STATISTICS - BY CLUSTER AREA

Statement 1 Responses - Public forms - All Statement 1 responses

Statement 2 Responses - Public forms - All Statement 2 responses

Statement 3 Responses - Public forms - All Statement 3 responses

Statement 4 Responses - Public forms - All Statement 4 responses

Statement 5 Responses - Public forms - All Statement 5 responses

Statement 6 Responses - Public forms - All Statement 6 responses

Statement 7 Responses - Public forms - All Statement 7 responses

Statement 8 Responses - Public forms - All Statement 8 responses

Statement 9 Responses - Public forms - All Statement 9 responses

Statement 10 Responses - Public forms - All Statement 10 responses

Statement 11 Responses - Public forms - All Statement 11 responses

Statement 12 Responses - Public forms - All Statement 12 responses

Background

At the start of this Council in May 2007, Members acknowledged that Shetland schools population projections anticipate a substantial reduction in pupils within a relatively short time frame. The challenge for the Council is, therefore, to develop a modern “blueprint” for the shape of the Service across Shetland for 10 years time. Any new model will consider the educational and financial viability levels for schools, their host communities as well as important associated issues such as transport requirements.

At the Services Committee in November 2007 set the terms of reference for this piece of work to be that,

  • The key drivers should be to provide the best quality educational opportunities and learning environment for all;
  • In so doing, the opportunity for savings to bring budgets to a sustainable level should be considered; and
  • The final blueprint comes back to Services Committee with an action plan to look at all schools, internal management, the necessary investment required, quality of education, new ways of delivering education and the potential for each school within a realistic timescale.

Government policy on schools and education is changing rapidly. Current thinking involves:

  • The increase in hours within the entitlement to pre-school education;
  • The Skills for Scotland, a Lifelong Skills Strategy;
  • The content of the new Curriculum for Excellence for Scottish Schools as described in Building the Curriculum 3, published in June 2008;
  • The current consultation on changes to the National Qualifications
  • Framework in Scotland, which runs until 31 October 2008Feedback from the recent Government consultation on the presumption against closure of rural schools.

Members want to meet with each local community to discuss the significant changes facing the Schools Service, as well as the “Blueprint” mentioned above. This Report therefore set out the focus for and timetable for consultation, between now and the end of December 2008. We have given a commitment to report back in January 2009.

The focus of the consultation will include:

  • Minimising the number of transfer points from pre-school through to Post-16 education
  • Resolving the relationship between statutory pre-school education and childcare,
  • Minimum pupil rolls for primary schools, except in our remote isles
  • The role of composite classes in Shetland’s primary schools and their educational benefits
  • Teaching head teachers
  • Proposed changes to the Scottish Curriculum and National Qualifications.
  • Equality of opportunity in terms of curriculum choices and post-school destinations


The report to the Services Committee on 09 October 2008 can be found here.