Agenda

Including any notices of motion and any other items of business submitted as urgent for consideration at the meeting.

Members should declare any financial and non-financial interests they have in the items of business for consideration, identifying the relevant agenda item and the nature of their interest.

If any

Minute of Education, Children and Families of 1 March 2022 – submitted for approval as a correct record

Minute of Education, Children and Families of 3 May 2022 – submitted for approval as a correct record

Minute of Education, Children and Families of 2 August 2022 – submitted for approval as a correct record

Work Programme

Rolling Actions Log

Business Bulletin

Empowered Learning Programme – Report by the Service Director – Customer & Digital Services

Internal Audit: Overdue Findings and Key Performance Indicators as at 26 January 2022 - Referral from the Governance, Risk and Best Value Committee

None.

Motion by Councillor Louise Young – St Margarets’ Primary School – Catchment Review

“Committee notes that:

·         St Margaret’s Primary School in South Queensferry is within the catchment for St Augustine’s Secondary School in the city centre. However, due to the distance and travel time (which during morning traffic can take 35-40mins each way), most P7 pupils go on to attend the local Queensferry High School instead of the denominational school.

·         Sinclair Academy denominational school in Winchburgh, West Lothian, is significantly closer and would mean a round trip for parents of approx. 30mins and would give pupils more time to engage in extra-curricular activities, homework, or time with family.

·         Edinburgh Council was approached by West Lothian Council during construction of Sinclair Academy, regarding the option to include West of Edinburgh in their catchment but this was not progressed.

·         While non-catchment requests are considered by West Lothian, this offers no guarantee to St Margaret’s families and with the ongoing housing development in West Lothian, it may become more difficult to secure a place. This is of particular concern for families with more than one child if there is no guaranteed place for a sibling.

·         Following representations to ward councillors and a meeting with council officers, it was agreed to carry out a survey of parents to determine preference for secondary school catchment. 80% of parents responded covering 82% of the pupils. The results of this survey show that over a third of parents wish their child to go on to a denominational secondary school, and another third are as yet undecided. 100% of these two categories of families wish to pursue a catchment change to Sinclair Academy.

 Committee therefore agrees:

·         That there is a clear indication from the parent body of St Margaret’s that they wish to explore a change of secondary school catchment.

·         To instruct officers to enter into formal discussion with West Lothian Council on the option to realign the catchment and ascertain whether they are willing to accommodate this change.

·         To ask officers to keep the Parent Council and ward councillors updated on these discussions and whether re-alignment can progress.

To bring a report to the Education, Children and Families Committee in November on the outcome of discussion with West Lothian Council and if agreeable, setting out the next steps for the formal catchment consultation process.”

Motion by Councillor Steve Burgess – Outdoor Learning for Edinburgh Schools

“This Committee;

1.    Recognises that Learning for Sustainability is a core part of the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s (GTCS) professional standards and that ‘Outdoor Learning’ is one of the three core strands of Learning for Sustainability, alongside Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development Education;

2.    Understands that the outdoor environment offers motivating, exciting, different, relevant and easily accessible contexts for children to learn and develop;

3.    Welcomes the programme of residential and excursions for Edinburgh schools and the report on this to committee in August 2021;

4.    Recognises the other opportunities to integrate onsite and local outdoor learning into the core curriculum and the school day;

5.    Therefore, requests an update report on outdoor learning in Edinburgh schools including in particular;

               I.                  How outdoor learning is delivered day-to-day in Edinburgh schools;

             II.                  The coverage and frequency of provision of outdoor learning across all schools, particularly primary schools;

            III.                  How schools and teachers are supported to provide outdoor learning;

           IV.                  Plans for further development of outdoor learning.”

The Committee is requested under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the public from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that it would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 8 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

Currie Community High School - Referral from the Finance and Resources Committee