Another successful year for Education services
An overview of the diverse range of work delivered by Perth & Kinross Council's Education and Children's Services during the year 2010-2011 will be considered at the next Lifelong Learning Committee on Wednesday 11th January 2012.
The annual Standards and Quality Report looks at both how the Service has been making a difference to the lives of children, young people, learners and communities and where it can continue to make improvements. Key strengths of the Service include excellent child protection services, ongoing strong leadership and direction for staff, improving exam performance, positive and improving school inspections, and very good learning and support programmes.
2010-11 has seen many notable successes for Perth and Kinross, with pupils' attainment continuing to be good, and looked after young people and pupils in the most deprived areas making important progress in the year's exams diet. An inspection of child protection services locally gave a very positive assessment of an 'outstanding level of support' and excellent services to help keep children safe, meet needs and reduce long-term harm.
The good provision of sporting and cultural activities in Perth and Kinross has been matched by increasing levels of participation by adults and children alike. There are wide-ranging opportunities for adult learning and the delivery of six state of the art community campuses is providing modern high quality facilities for learning, teaching, and community use.
Other highlights of the year include our services for children with additional support needs and for vulnerable youngsters, work to enhance educational achievement through sport in the Sports Comprehensive programme, lifelong learning projects, and community engagement initiatives.
Looking forward, Councillors will hear that a range of key improvement actions have been identified, covering the Service's main priorities Lifelong Learning Convener, Councillor Liz Grant said: "Education and Children's Services is focussed on delivering the best possible services in Perth and Kinross, and the Standards and Quality report going before the Committee clearly reflects this.
"2010-11 has been a very positive year for us and we are going to embed what has been achieved in the past 12 months, to provide ongoing benefit and keep making a difference in the lives of children, young people, learners and communities locally."
The Committee will be asked to agree that the report is made available to the public via the Council website. It will also be considered at the Scrutiny Committee on 8th February 2012.
