Issue - meetings

(i)       in relation to the implementation of the revised Anti-Bullying Policy, to note that the lead officer monitored data by school on a monthly basis and followed this up with schools to consider any changes or anomalies in the data, and understand what was being done as mitigation; and to note that the Executive Director had undertaken to include a question in the next health and wellbeing survey around how satisfied young people were with how bullying situations had been resolved under the revised Policy;

(ii)       in relation to the query around the provision of National 5 over two years (namely how many academies had switched to this; the increased proportion of National 5 presentations expected in 2025; and whether modelling had been undertaken on what was expected to happen to the pass rate as a result), to note that the Executive Director would provide a response to Members outwith the meeting;

(iii)      to note that a service update in respect of the work around Healthy Weight was expected to be circulated in October;

(iv)      to congratulate staff and pupils at Riverbank School on winning the Scots Bairns Book of the Year for Summer e Magic Scurry, and to note that officers would consider how best to publicise where the book was available to purchase;

(v)      in relation to the Youth Climate Group, to note that officers would provide an update to Members outwith the meeting on the work of the group, particularly in relation to any work undertaken on whole school environmental efficiencies;

(vi)      to note the content of the service Self-Evaluation and Plan contained in Appendix A;

(vii)     to instruct the Chief Officer – Education and Lifelong Learning to implement the proposed Aberdeen City National Improvement Framework Plan 24/25; and

(viii)    to instruct the Chief Officer – Education and Lifelong Learning to maintain a review of the 24/25 Plan in light of any impacting national legislative or policy provisions through the education reform agendas and advise Committee of any required changes in due course.

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director Families and Communities which sought approval to implement the refreshed Aberdeen City Council National Improvement Framework Plan for 2024/25, following submission of the Self-Evaluation and Plan to the Scottish Government.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the content of the service Self-Evaluation and Plan contained in Appendix A;

(b)      instruct the Chief Officer – Education and Lifelong Learning to implement the proposed Aberdeen City National Improvement Framework Plan 24/25; and

(c)      instruct the Chief Officer – Education and Lifelong Learning to maintain a review of the 24/25 Plan in light of any impacting national legislative or policy provisions through the education reform agendas and advise Committee of any required changes in due course.

During the discussion on the report, Dr Murray advised for reasons of transparency, she ran a peer support group for children and parents, however she did not consider this to be an interest which required to be declared and would prevent her from participating in the item.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       in relation to the implementation of the revised Anti-Bullying Policy, to note that the lead officer monitored data by school on a monthly basis and followed this up with schools to consider any changes or anomalies in the data, and understand what was being done as mitigation; and to note that the Executive Director had undertaken to include a question in the next health and wellbeing survey around how satisfied young people were with how bullying situations had been resolved under the revised Policy;

(ii)       in relation to the query around the provision of National 5 over two years (namely how many academies had switched to this; the increased proportion of National 5 presentations expected in 2025; and whether modelling had been undertaken on what was expected to happen to the pass rate as a result), to note that the Executive Director would provide a response to Members outwith the meeting;

(iii)      to note that a service update in respect of the work around Healthy Weight was expected to be circulated in October;

(iv)      to congratulate staff and pupils at Riverbank School on winning the Scots Bairns Book of the Year for Summer e Magic Scurry, and to note that officers would consider how best to publicise where the book was available to purchase;

(v)      in relation to the Youth Climate Group, to note that officers would provide an update to Members outwith the meeting on the work of the group, particularly in relation to any work undertaken on whole school environmental efficiencies; and

(vi)      to approve the recommendations.