Tag: education

UNISON City of Edinburgh denounces Council’s determination to enforce education cuts

UNISON City of Edinburgh is deeply concerned by the decision made by City of Edinburgh Council to delete the Education Welfare Officer (EWO) Service from its books.

This being despite our warnings that the removal of these posts will be detrimental to the children of Edinburgh who need additional support. EWO’s play a crucial role, working with our schools and the children’s families to address the issue of repeated absenteeism. They offer direct support to struggling households providing answers and solutions to the problems that vex many of our children.

At its November meeting yesterday, City of Edinburgh Council voted against reversing the removal of these posts. This happened despite a joint proposal put forward by the SNP and Greens which aimed to reverse the £600k cut to the EWO Service.

The decision to remove these posts was supported by the Labour Group with the complete support of all Lib Dem and Conservative Councillors.

Graham Neal, from the UNISON City of Edinburgh branch, spoke on behalf of the EWO’s and asked why the Council was prepared to lose such an important and vital service, questioning the understanding behind such a decision.

Emphasis was also made in regard to the adverse effect this cut would have on the city’s most vulnerable children and families as well as the significant impact on the Council’s ability to fulfil its statutory commitments.

Graham went on to add that the fateful decision taken by the Labour Administration and their partners not to support the SNP/Green proposal to protect Education Welfare Officer posts sends a concerning message about their commitment to safeguarding the future of our city’s children.

It is deeply disappointing that regardless of the genuine concerns raised by school staff, parents and UNISON the Labour Administration appear more interested in balancing the books than protecting the well-being and future of our city’s children and families, the union said.

Plans annnounced for Centre of Teaching Excellence

Education Secretary announces plans as part of wider reform

Plans for a new national centre to ensure excellence in teaching across Scotland have been announced by Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth.

The Centre of Teaching Excellence will support research and innovation in teaching practice for all children and young people, with the aim of making Scotland a world-leader in teaching practice.

The centre will be developed in partnership with teachers and professional associations as part of ongoing work to reform Scotland’s education system.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “Excellent learning and teaching must be the foundation of all that we do in Scottish education.

“I want to ensure that all of our hard-working teachers are supported and empowered in our classrooms.

“That is why, as part of the education reform agenda, we will establish a new Centre of Teaching Excellence, making Scotland a world-leader in new approaches to learning and teaching.

“Co-designed with our teachers and professional associations, the Centre of Teaching Excellence will put Scotland at the forefront of innovative research in teaching practice.

“We will use the centre to work together with Local Authorities in our shared, national mission to close the attainment gap and deliver truly excellent learning and teaching to all of our children.”

Next steps for the creation of the Centre of Teaching Excellence will be announced in due course, after engagement with teachers and professional associations.

Graduation day as 10 Edinburgh youngsters complete ‘mini PhD’ in abacus

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar presents trophies and certificates at education ceremony

Twenty-three of the brightest minds in the UK – ten of them from Edinburgh – were honoured in a ceremony in Glasgow last month (16th September) to celebrate their completion of a leading abacus training programme.

The War Memorial Hall in Bishopbriggs, packed with family and friends of the winners, rung with heartfelt applause when Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar MSP presented each of the children with their awards.

The celebration was organised by computer scientist and educator, Dr Rashmi Mantri, head of The British Youth International College (BYITC), who set up the organisation in 2015 after teaching her own son, Druhv, maths using a counting tool that has been used for millennia – the abacus.

Now BYITC and its Supermaths programme is the leading abacus training provider in the UK and has also developed the world’s first games-based abacus maths application.

“Clearing all levels of Abacus is no walk in the park as it requires a lot of hard work and typically takes students 3 – 4 years of practice to complete this. It really is like a mini PhD for these incredible young people,” said Dr Mantri.

“As well as enabling people to do mental arithmetic in super fast time, the abacus is a highly effective brain development tool for concentration. The touch and feel nature of it makes it very popular for children with dyslexia also for example.

“With Maths Week Scotland fast approaching at the end of the month, we want parents and teachers to know that the abacus is a tried and tested tool to improve mental maths. Our annual maths competition called an Olympiad, is launching on 25th September – it is very popular as it is open to anyone to enter and is free of charge.”

Of the 23 winners at the graduation ceremony, 10 were from Edinburgh (listed below), 7 from Glasgow, 1 from Falkirk and the remainder from across England and Wales.

·       Mishika Pandey, 10, who attends East Craigs Primary School

·       Shariva Lasure, 12, who attends Craigmount High School

·       Aaliyah Deepak Krishnaveni, 11, who attends Tynecastle High School

·       Gauri Shrikande, 12, who attends Craigmount High School

·       Aarush Gosain, 12, who attends Rosehill High School, Wallyford

·       Taran Vighnesh, 9, who attends Kirkliston Primary School

·       Shreya Navratna, 15, who attends Tynecastle High School

·       Rishon Ashley, 14, who attends Tynecastle High School

·       Santiago Prieto, 12, who attends St Augustine’s RC High School

·       Tanush Venkat, 11, Cramond Primary School

The parents of Rishon, 14, from Edinburgh, said: “As parents of the millennials, we stand before a crowd of highly intelligent and capable future leaders – today’s kids.

“Abacus classes run by BYITC are really effective and have made it worth these the kids’ time in preparing, attending and undertaking homework assignments provided by able teachers and coordinators.

“We are humbled by the extent and quality of their input and happy to be part of this fitting recognitions.”

Leader of the Scottish Labour Party and Member of the Scottish Parliament, Anas Sarwar, said: “It is a great privilege to meet, and present completion certificates, to all of these high-achieving young people.

“Highlighting the outstanding achievements of young people across the United Kingdom is vital for their own development and the future of our nation, and I congratulate each and every one of them on their awards.

“I would like to congratulate the work of Dr Rashmi Mantri and the BYITC team in continuing to develop and teach the next generation of STEM superstars.”

To find out more about the awards and how to sign up for the free maths competition, visit the BYITC website.

Cutting the cost of the school day

Education Secretary praises innovative approach

Pupils and staff at Braes High School in Falkirk have been highlighting their innovate approaches to help cut the cost of the school day for families, as part of Challenge Poverty Week.

Cost-saving initiatives include the creation of ‘Take What You Need’ trolleys with essential school items, toiletries and snacks.  S1 pupils also receive a Braes Backpack which contains a school starter kit.

The school has received more than £369,000 of Scottish Government Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) in recent years, supporting a range of work including these latest initiatives.

Scotland has the most generous universal free school meal offer of any nation in the UK – saving families an average of £400 per eligible child per year – while the School Clothing Grant has been increased so that those who are eligible receive at least £120 per child of primary school age and £150 per secondary pupil.

The 2023-24 Programme for Government set out commitments to further support reductions in the cost of the school day by funding the removal of core curriculum charges, further expanding free school meals and increasing the school clothing grant for the next academic year.

On a visit to the school, the Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “It was hugely encouraging to visit Braes High School during Challenge Poverty Week and to witness the innovative approaches pupils and staff have adopted to deal with the challenges that, sadly, too many of our young people and their families are facing.

“This work has been supported by the Scottish Government’s Pupil Equity Funding scheme – with more than £520 million this parliamentary term empowering headteachers to take creative and innovative approaches to tackle the poverty-related attainment gap.

“We are determined to do everything in our power to support families out of poverty, including investing in the game-changing Scottish Child Payment – part of a package of measures taken by this government which will help lift 90,000 children out of poverty in Scotland this year.

“We know that many families are still struggling, particularly as a result of the cost of living crisis. Tackling the cost of the school day is a key priority for the Scottish Government.”

Sara Spencer, Cost of the School Day Project Manager at Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland: “We have been delighted to work with Braes High School and their Cost of the School Day Pupil Group and see all of the meaningful ways young people have involved their school community and designed supports that help to make sure everyone can take part and feel included.

“Cost of the School Day at Braes is an inspiring example of what can happen when young people take the lead on equity in their own schools and a reminder of the impact that a poverty aware school culture and a clear focus on reducing the cost of the school day can have.”

Braes HS Head teacher Iain Livingstone said: “Our young people, staff, parents, carers and the wider community work well together to challenge poverty and support all learners. Pupil Equity Funding has helped us take forward a number of projects and support to help our young people get the most out of their education.

“We enjoyed being able to speak with the Cabinet Secretary, and seeing our young people discuss the  many developments and ideas they lead.”

Braes High School worked with the Child Poverty Action Group to develop these initiatives. They are part of the new Cost of the School Day Voice network of children and young people.

Schools in Falkirk Council have received more than £26 million from the Scottish Government between 2015-16 and 2022-23 to close the poverty related attainment gap.

New Schools Fund to expand film and screen education across Scotland

Work to embed film and screen education within the Scottish schools’ curriculum took a step forward today with the launch of new funding from Screen Scotland. 

Available to early years, primary and secondary schools, the new Schools Screen Education Fund has been created to support programmes of work with the potential to develop increased understanding of the potential of screen education and support the provision of screen education and the new curriculum in a school setting.   

Schools can apply for grants up to £5000 to test an element of the draft Film and Screen curriculum with classes from Early Years to S3, or to design and deliver screen education projects for schools. 

Also going live today, is Screen Scotland’s refreshed Screen Education Fund which offers grants of between £500 – £20,000 to projects that support the provision of screen education in a variety of formal, informal and non-formal settings – schools, colleges, universities, cinemas, film festivals, libraries, media access centres and Local Authorities – aimed at developing increased understanding of the potential of screen education. 

Fi Milligan-Rennie, Head of Education – Screen at Screen Scotland said: “Developing Film and Screen as an expressive art focuses on enabling pupils to make a film, rather than solely study the history or theory of film.

“This is core to Screen Scotland’s work to widen participation in film and screen production, cultivate a skilled screen workforce and develop the screen professionals needed to carry forward Scotland’s film culture.

“At the same time, the values and benefits of film and screen education reach far beyond careers.  Engagement in film and screen activity strengthens fusion skills, supports attainment in other subjects and improves health and wellbeing.  Film and Screen is the dominant language of our culture and Screen Scotland is committed to ensuring the democracy of opportunity to learn that language.” 

The launch took place in tandem with Screen Scotland’s Screen Educators in Residence Programme. Over the past months, Screen Educators have been deep at work in primary and secondary schools in Argyll and Bute, Dundee, Edinburgh, Inverness and Shetland, testing the draft curriculum; trialling new learning and hands-on opportunities to develop students understanding, appreciation and practical knowledge of film and screen production.  

Welcomed by Scotland’s Educators, independent production companies and Scottish screen stars like Outlander’s Sam Heughan, the ultimate aim of the two-year pilot programme is to introduce film and screen within the Scottish curriculum from Early Years through to Senior Phase.

Full details about the Funds and how to apply are available on the Screen Scotland website: https://www.screen.scot/funding-and-support/funding/screen-education-fund 

A world of learning just a click away with u3a’s Interest Groups Online

From Ancient Rome to Astronomy, and Fashion to Crime Fiction, there is something to tantalise the taste buds of anyone wishing to learn something new with Interest Groups Online.     

The u3a movement is for those no longer in full-time work who have time to spare, a desire to learn and would like to make new social connections.    

Interest Groups Online is the online learning service of the organisation and from 2nd to 6th of October, there will be a series of free sessions open to non-members to try out the wealth of fascinating groups available.     

Stephen, from Edinburgh, is in several groups, including Slow French. He says: “Interest Groups Online is excellent for languages, whether you’re learning, improving, or keeping your existing skills alive. 

“C’est parfait pour mour, (it’s perfect for me) and my late in life ambition to be bilingual.” 

Stephen is one of five members who talk about their positive experience of Interest Groups Online in this short film.

Members can join as a complementary service to their local in-person u3a membership or as a standalone membership. From October, Interest Groups Online membership is just £6 for 6 months and members will have access to over 75 different groups across a wide range of topics.  

Visit the Interest Groups Online page to browse all groups. For more information, visit www.u3a.org.uk 

Fettes College announces expansion of fully-funded bursary to whole of Scotland

Fettes College in Edinburgh has expanded its Kick-start bursary to now include children from any location across Scotland who can benefit from a fully-funded Fettes education.  

Until now, only two students from five Edinburgh state primary schools were eligible for this transformational bursary scheme, which is supported by a charitable trust.  

But this has been extended to 11-year-olds from across the country, enabling children from Midlothian to attend Fettes until sixth form of the senior school. 

To be eligible for this particular bursary, applicants must receive free school meals or be in a low-income household. 

Mr Charlie Minogue, Headmaster of Fettes College Preparatory School said: “Fettes College was founded in 1870 through the philanthropy of Sir William Fettes and our philanthropic mission is to help bright young students, regardless of their circumstances, gain access to a Fettes education so they can have every opportunity to make the most of their talents. Our students aim high, and giving back to the community is a really important part of our ethos. 

“We provide exceptional teaching at Fettes, inspiring a lifelong love of learning. The quality of the education we deliver goes beyond achieving impressive academic results, and is much more rounded, with an extensive range of sports, co-curricular activities, outdoor pursuits and trips – Fettes is a place that matters.” 

Successful students will join Fettes’ Prep School for the first two years of their education, giving them the chance to familiarise themselves with the school environment across a stunning 100-acre campus before moving up to the Senior School.  

Old Fettesian (alumni) membership and access to the Fettes Careers Partnership is also included within the bursary, so the students have a connection to the school community for life.  

The Kick-start bursary is part of the Fettes Bursarial Programme.  

Applications for the bursary are now open and will close on 15 January 2024.  

More information about the bursary and an application form is available at https://www.fettes.com/kick-start-bursary.  

Improved offer to schools workforce

COSLA tables increased offer with school strikes looming

Local government umbrella body COSLA has tabled an improved offer to unions in an attempt to avert school strikes.

Commenting on a revised offer which was sent to the Trade Unions yesterday (Wednesday) COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmann said:  “The reality of the situation is that as employers, Council Leaders have now made a strong offer even stronger.

“Council Leaders have listened to the workforce and then acted on what they heard by adding additional Council funds to get us to the position today where a revised offer can be made.

“We have also secured additional baseline funding from Scottish Government of £94 million, which will be built into the Scottish Government’s funding for Councils from next year, that ensures the viability and sustainability of this offer.

“This is an extremely strong offer which not only compares well to other sectors, but recognises the cost-of-living pressures on our workforce and which would mean the lowest paid would see a 21% increase in their pay over a two-year period.

“Councils value their workforce and this offer will support those workers during a cost of living crisis, whilst also protecting vital jobs and services. We hope that our Trade Union colleagues will give their membership the chance to consider this strong offer.”

Commenting on Cosla’s revised pay offer which was sent to unions last night, UNISON Scotland’s head of local government, Johanna Baxter said: ““UNISON Scotland’s local government committee will hold an emergency meeting first thing tomorrow (today, Thursday) and will go through the detail of Cosla’s revised offer and consider our position. UNISON will do everything we can to find a solution – we do not want to see mass school closures.

“However, we need to be convinced that this is a substantially improved offer. UNISON members in schools have voted in unprecedented numbers to take action and we have a mandate to call over 21,000 school staff out on strike over this – our members have clearly had enough. COSLA and the Scottish government need to make sure these workers are properly rewarded for their commitment and hard work.”

More than three quarters of Scotland’s schools face closure later this month in a dispute over pay, as UNISON announces strike dates. If it goes ahead the action will affect primary and secondary schools in 24 local authorities, with 76% of Scotland’s schools affected (1,868 schools).

UNISON, Scotland’s largest local government union, says more than 21,000 members will take part in the action over three days from Tuesday, 26 to Thursday, 28 September.

UNISON Scotland’s head of local government, Johanna Baxter said last week: “Going on strike is always a last resort – our members want to be in schools supporting children not on picket lines outside them.

“But they have been left with no option.  Local government workers overwhelmingly rejected COSLA’s below-inflation pay offer back in March and despite our repeated representations no improvement has been forthcoming.

“A real-terms pay cut in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis is a cut our members simply cannot afford.  This is not a highly-paid workforce – three quarters of local government workers earn less than the average Scottish wage.

“All they want is to be paid fairly for the vital work they do supporting Scotland’s communities – COSLA and the Scottish Government need to get back round the table and work with us to deliver that.”

Chair of UNISON Scotland’s local government committee, Mark Ferguson said last week: “Our members are steadfast in their resolve to fight for fair pay.  COSLA’s offer falls short of UNISON’s pay claim, it is also less than the offer made to the lowest paid local government staff south of the border.  

“No-one wants to see schools close but COSLA need to come back with a significantly improved pay offer very soon if strike action is to be avoided.  We remain committed to engaging in negotiations with COSLA and the Scottish Government at any point to try to resolve this dispute.”

COSLA has now came back with that new offer – but will this ‘even stronger’ offer be enough to avert looming industrial action?

BREAKING NEWS:

2pm: UNISON HAS REJECTED LATEST PAY OFFER – STRIKES GO AHEAD

Tech experts asked to partner with schools to help shape education in Edinburgh

Digital technology experts are being sought to help inform teaching in secondary schools in Edinburgh as the country’s tech industry experiences remarkable growth.

The Digital Critical Friends initiative has been set up by Scotland’s tech trade body, ScotlandIS, to address the industry’s skills gap and tackle high Computer Science drop-off rates in a time when one in ten jobs in Scotland is in the tech sector.

As demand for their services increase, Scottish tech businesses are continuing to face challenges, with 23% citing a lack of basic data skills and 37% reporting a lack of advanced digital skills among their existing workforces.

The Digital Critical Friends initiative aims to link industry professionals with Computer Science educators to support the alignment of lessons with industry best practices and offer students a holistic view of sector opportunities.

Tech professionals – from IT technicians to software engineers – are being encouraged to volunteer to take part in the programme that will help to shape schools’ curriculums.

Fiona Anderson, Project Manager at software development and digital transformation company PDMS, partnered with St Margaret’s High School in North Lanarkshire as part of the programme. 

She said: “It’s important for schools to have direct links with the tech sector so pupils can ask questions and get inspired by the potential career paths that they perhaps weren’t aware of previously.

“Giving young people an idea of the skillsets required for the various jobs in our sector can really help to give them direction for the future.

“For example, discussing how good attention to detail and problem-solving skills are key for analysis and testing jobs, or that design roles might be well-suited to those who are keen on art and design or who have a creative flair, can help students understand which roles in our industry might be a good fit for them.”

Karen Meechan, CEO of ScotlandIS, said: “While our well-established tech sector is growing, companies today are finding it difficult to recruit with today’s shortage of skills. Our mission is to engage and inspire young minds while bridging the skills gap.

“Scotland’s tech sector is dynamic, exciting and offers a brilliant career path for young people today. But given the fast nature of the industry, the changes in how we use and develop technology can’t always be reflected in how the subject is taught in schools. There is no better way to protect the industry’s promising growth trajectory, and job opportunities of school leavers, than to build a direct line of contact between schools and professionals.

“We’re looking forward to working alongside new industry partners as we work to equip students with industry-relevant skills.”

Becoming a Digital Critical Friend involves an initial face-to-face meeting with a local school. The volunteers then maintain regular contact with teachers to help inform teaching, with at least one in-person meeting per term.

Additionally, mentors have the opportunity to invite teachers to their workplace, providing them with an immersive experience, observing their teams and gaining insights into ongoing project.

Karen added: “We understand that each professional and each school will be balancing different priorities, which is why we’ve ensured that the programme can be tailored to best suit the needs of each party.

“For example, we have a school on the Isle of Barra looking for a Digital Critical Friend, which they appreciate will most likely have to be conducted remotely!”

The Digital Critical Friends programme was first launched in 2021, and is now active in over six regions. After a successful start, ScotlandIS is now looking to expand the programme across all regions in Scotland.

To find out more about becoming a Digital Critical Friend, visit the ScotlandIS website.

EIS-FELA: Time running out to avert escalation of college lecturers dispute

The EIS has called on the Scottish Government and College Employers Scotland to take definitive action to ensure that college lecturers receive a fair and fully funded pay award.

College Employers Scotland have made clear to negotiators from the EIS-Further Education Lecturers Association (EIS-FELA) that their current offer would be funded through significant job losses across the publicly funded further education sector.

EIS-FELA members have been engaged in industrial action short of strike (ASOS), in the form of a resulting boycott and work to contract, since May 2023 and should have received their pay award one year ago.

Without an acceptable and fully funded offer, the EIS-FELA membership will escalate their industrial action campaign to include national and rolling strike action, alongside targeted strike action in the constituencies of key Scottish Government ministers, including the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education.

As politicians from the Scottish Government and all other parties at Holyrood return from the summer recess, EIS-FELA intends to take the campaign for a fully funded and fair pay award directly to parliament, with a rally planned outside the Scottish Parliament to coincide with the first FMQs of the new session.

College Employers Scotland have also this week refused a request made by the EIS to extend the current industrial action mandate. In the absence of such agreement from College Employers Scotland, the EIS has continued with the implementation of a national re-ballot for both action short of strike and strike action that has opened today (Thursday 31st August 2023).

Commenting, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley, said, “Time is running out, on both the Scottish Government and College Employers Scotland, to avert the escalation of the crisis in Scotland’s colleges. No group of workers, least of all those in public sector institutions, should be told by their employers that they must sacrifice jobs to finance an already unacceptable pay offer.

“College Employers Scotland have yet to offer evidence that they have made clear to the Scottish Government that any acceptable pay award must be fully funded.

“The Scottish Government too must end its intransigence and avert this crisis by ensuring that no pay offer to hard working college lecturers is financed by job losses. EIS-FELA members are prepared to take substantial strike action, on top of action short of strike, in pursuit of a fully funded and fair pay award. They do so with the full backing of the EIS behind them.”

EIS-FELA President, Anne-Marie Harley, said, “College lecturers should have received a fair pay award a year ago and have been forced into the unacceptable situation of escalating their industrial action to a wide-ranging programme of strike action, including targeted strike action in the constituencies of Scottish Government ministers.

“We do so alongside a re-ballot of our members to ensure that we can continue this fight for fair pay for as long as it takes. EIS-FELA will never trade jobs for pay and both College Employers Scotland and the Scottish Government must act swiftly to avert strike action through providing a fully funded a fair pay award for college lecturers that does not result in job losses.”

A full programme of strike action is provided below:

  • Thursday 7th September: National strike Day.

Rolling Action Week One:

  • Monday 11th September: New College Lanarkshire and Orkney College.
  • Tuesday 12th September: Glasgow Clyde College and Sabhal Mor Ostaig.
  • Wednesday 13th September: Forth Valley College and UHI Moray.
  • Thursday 14th September: Glasgow Kelvin College and NESCoL.
  • Friday 15th September: Fife College and UHI North, West and Hebrides.

Rolling Action Week Two:

  • Monday 18th September: West College Scotland and Newbattle Abbey College.
  • Tuesday 19th September: UHI Argyle and Ayrshire College.
  • Wednesday 20th September: South Lanarkshire College and Shetland College.
  • Thursday 21st September: Dumfries & Galloway College and Dundee & Angus College.
  • Friday 22nd September: UHI Perth and Edinburgh College.

Rolling Action Week Three:

  • Monday 25th September: UHI Inverness and West Lothian College.
  • Tuesday 26th September: City of Glasgow College and Borders College.
  • Targeted Action: 2nd, 3rd and 4th October:
  • Glasgow Clyde College: First Minister’s constituency.
  • Fife College: Cabinet Secretary for Education’s constituency.
  • Dundee & Angus College: Deputy First Minister’s and Minister for FE’s constituency.