Drummond Community High School

With various colleagues, visited Drummond Community High School earlier this afternoon - some of the senior pupils and Head Teacher gave us a very informative tour of the whole building.

It has to be said - there was a remarkably impressive atmosphere throughout the school ... incredibly calm and relaxed for a city High School!

Thoroughly enjoyed seeing around the facilities and speaking to some of the students and staff.

Royston Primary School

Out to Royston Primary School this morning to meet some parent's representatives ... bit of anxiety over changes in the proposed number of full-time places at the Nursery Class within the school.

With Elizabeth's (local councillor and fellow blogger!) help, took the parents through the proposed changes, making it clear that we will keep it under review and certainly amend if the Department's projections are badly wrong ... which isn't usually the case, but the guarantee of review is there.

One big positive that I felt may have come out of the meeting is the potential establishment of a Parent Council at the Primary School, which doesn't currently have one ... every cloud has a silver-ling, as they say ;-)

Second day of "shadowing"

Second day of shadowing today ... did a bit of an article on all of this, which can be found here ... but thought it worthwhile copying the full text in this entry also (something I do try and avoid usually) ...

"On my mission to learn more about the workings of the Department many contacts had suggested I undertake some full-day 'shadowing' of a couple of posts within the Department, and I've now completed just that ... having spent a day with a Senior Social Worker at the Murrayburn Gate Social Work Centre; and another day with a Principal Teacher at Leith Academy. I've found both days completely invaluable and thought it would be worth saying why.

I tried to make sure that both days were as informally organised as possible and asked that I see, as far as feasible, a pretty ordinary working day in both environments. I think I managed to achieve this, but certainly wouldn't class either day as 'ordinary'.

Clearly, it wouldn't be sensible to spell out all of the detail of either day here, but suffice it to say that I was hugely impressed with the very wide range of duties that both post-holders had to undertake and how they coped with really rapidly changing situations from one hour to the next ... now, my 'ordinary' day is pretty varied (to say the least) but the pressures are certainly no greater than those being faced by the two staff members I've just spent a couple of days with.
Of course, I read endless reports on all of these issues, and I do patiently listen to staff members telling me about their daily pressures when I'm on regular establishment visits ... and I do try very hard to ensure those discussions are reflected in the decisions that are taken. But the actual experience of going through a days work, in both a social work and an education environment, has really evidenced the reality of those pressures in a way that no amount of reading/listening can do.

And, despite the obvious challenges being faced, I have to say that I found both days genuinely uplifting ... it's the best adjective I can think of to describe what I saw: yes - very difficult casework dilemmas, physical time pressures and constraints, some pretty challenging pupil behaviour, heavy paperwork duties ... but also numerous professionals completely dedicated to assisting those most in need (the vulnerable and the young) and giving of their all to make the very best of the time and resources they had to make as big a positive impact as humanly possible.

Difficult work I accept with yet more resources, I know, being required ... but also, definitely uplifting."

"Shadowing" for two days!

I've been asked - on several occasions now - to spend a couple of days shadowing a Social Worker and a Teacher ... so I thought I'd pick up the gauntlet and do just that!

Thus today spent with a senior Social Worker at Murrayburn Gate Social Work Centre; and tomorrow with a Principal Teacher at Leith Academy ...

... more to follow tomorrow ...

Prentice Centre

This afternoon went to visit the Edinburgh North 'Community Learning and Development' (CLD) team at the Prentice Centre ... the staff had really spent quite a bit of time in preparation (I'd guess!) and the presentations given to me were really very, very informative.
Thoroughly enjoyed a good, frank debate about the upcoming Neighbourhood Partnerships with them also ;-))

HMIE

HMIE Inspection interview this morning as part of the Children Services Inspection - have mentioned all of this on several occasions before.

All a bit daunting, given the outcome of the last inspection that was undertaken in this area!

... and later this afternoon, visited Broomhouse Primary School - much more enjoyable ;-)

Lagganlia yesterday

Up to Lagganlia Outdoor Education Centre yesterday ... very similar issues raised (obviously!) and discussed as when I recently visited Benmore.

Being a Friday, didn't meet any activity groups - all had just left - and thus was spared the gorge walk experience this time ;-)

Did get a bit more time to meet and talk to staff, and I certainly found both this trip - and the earlier one to Benmore - enormously useful. Hope the staff felt it worthwhile also!

Two school visits today

Visited both Royston and Forthview Primary Schools today.

Really first-class work going on at both these schools, which serve very mixed catchment areas.

Adult Learning Link

Later this afternoon went over to Craigmillar to visit 'Adult Learning Link' ... again, very impressive range of supports being offered to the local community from this central base.

More information about the general work of the Edinburgh East Community Learning and Development (CLD) team can be found by following this link.

Covered my two recent CLD visits in the periodic Department Newsletter - can be found here.

Benmore Centre for Outdoor Education today

Up to Benmore Centre for Outdoor Education today ... bit of a drive to get there, but did promise both Benmore and Lagganlia Centre Managers that I would visit before the election-period kicked in proper!

A really enjoyable day ... was a serious side to the visit, as regards budget pressures, which I spent a considerable time discussing with the Centre Manager, and do feel reasonably confident that the main concern over timescales for long-term decisions can be resolved pretty quickly. In essence, both Managers are looking for a clear way forward by August this year ... I think this is achievable, but a challenge obviously given the intervening election!

Talking of challenges, had a go on both the indoor climbing wall ... boy, were my arms aching afterwards ... and undertook a spot of gorge walking; described on Benmore's website as "one of the most outrageous of our activities and certainly one of the wettest. You will be negotiating rocky streams, waterfalls and other obstacles trying to stay dry for as long as possible. Generally ropes are not required although sometimes they can be used as handrails or for traversing over the water."

Sadly for me ... this is an entirely accurate description
;-((

Joking aside ... very enjoyable afternoon spent doing these activities. Staff, and students present, could not have been more friendly and accommodating.

Edinburgh South Children & Youth Work team

Over to Gracemount Leisure Centre this morning to visit Edinburgh South Children & Youth Work team (part of Community Learning and Development - CLD) ... very impressed with the wide-range of support activities that are being undertaken in this part of the city. This aspect of CLD's work is, all too often, overlooked I feel ... glad I've been to visit today.

More, general information on Edinburgh South CLD can be found by following this link.

Gracemount Leisure Centre facilities pretty impressive also!

Eco Schools visit tomorrow ...

David Miliband MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, up in Edinburgh for the day tomorrow.

Seems to have a pretty hectic schedule, including a visit to Currie High School which has the Eco Schools Green Flag Award.

Eco Schools (I've mentioned it here before) is an international initiative designed to encourage whole-school action for the environment. It's an environmental management tool, learning resource and recognised award scheme.

There are over 2,500 schools registered with the Eco Schools programme in Scotland and over 10% of these schools have attained the highest award level - the Green Flag.

Eco Schools has really taken off across Scotland, but particularly in Edinburgh were the vast majority of the primary and secondary estate are registered with the programme. Sure that David Miliband will be impressed with Currie High School.







Noticed that the Minister even has a departmental blog ... they're all at it ;-))

On a lighter, and more positive, note ...

On a lighter, and more positive, note ... out to Gracemount High School later this afternoon as part of a round of Ministerial visits to new (or refurbished) schools.

'Devolution' - what's been the point??

South Morningside Primary School

Very lengthy visit to South Morningside Primary School this afternoon ... found the time spent there really, really useful. The Headteacher, the Chair of the School Board, and the Chair of the PTA all gave willingly of their afternoon - for which I'm grateful - to make sure I had a complete picture of the issues that face the school.

The whole visit was definite proof that seeing things first-hand is always better than simply reading about them in yet another official report!

Going back to the School Board on 31st January, and will hopefully have made some progress with the issues being raised. In essence, the School Nursery is being required (more information here) to vacate it's current premises later this year, and this is compounded by the already existing pressures on the main school site, pressure which of itself has led to 2 (of the 3) Primary 1 classes already being housed in a separate annexe building. So, having to move the Nursery to a new location is not going to be easy.

That said, I think there are two parts to the problem - one is very short-term, the other longer-term.

In the short-term, we do need to find a solution to the Nursery location, and pretty quickly, as it's not that long now until the Summer break. I know the prospect of housing any such temporary Nursery building in the current main playground is not looked on with much favour locally (to say the least!) - and I am determined to avoid that option if at all possible. I do though have to face the possibility that no other solution arises ... unlikely, but it would be wrong to ignore it.

In the longer-term, there clearly is a lot of pressure on the current, main building - with the Nursery and two P1's already being housed externally - and a more permanent arrangement needs to be found to house, say, all of the early-years services ... thus freeing up badly-needed space in the main building.

I'm sure that, with a bit of goodwill and cooperation, the Local Authority, the School and the local Community can resolve these problems ... it won't be easy, but nothing ever really worth achieving is.

Visiting two schools today and LDC tonight

Visiting two schools today ... one just a building site (!) and one not.

This morning off to Niddrie Mains Drive in Craigmillar to see the start of work commencing on the new Primary School there - see this link for a bit of general background - artists impression above (?) ...

Then this afternoon, off to Currie Primary School in the west of the city ...

... and this evening, Edinburgh Central Local Development Committee (LDC) meets - agenda can be found here. Think this may actually be the last (or at least penultimate) meeting of the Central LDC before the move to "Neighbourhood Partnerships" - more details on all of this can be found here ...

And here's a rough map showing the proposed new, Neighbourhood Partnerships

Wellington School and Moredun Young People's Centre

Two 'establishment visits' today - off to Wellington School this morning, and then Moredun Young People's Centre (YPC) this afternoon.

Oh; and in-between all that, back up before the Budget Review Group (BRG) ... as mentioned a few posts ago. Probably our last formal pitch for the Departmental 2007/08 Budget settlement, before the actual Council Meeting on 8th February which will set the overall Corporate Budget for the local authority.

An interesting day!

Boroughmuir High School

Boroughmuir High School this afternoon ... for much the same purpose as yesterday's visit to James Gillespies - to talk to the Head Teacher and School Board reps. etc. about the report going to the Full Council next week.

Boroughmuir also being prioritised for the third round of school building - and despite them having been in this position on several occasions in the past, they showed a real pragmatism about the progress that's been made with their case in the last few months.

Very refreshing and positive ;-)

James Gillespie's High School

James Gillespies High School this afternoon ... brief visit to go over the upcoming report going before the Full Council next week on 21st December.

Although there is undoubted relief at the report actually prioritising James Gillespies for our next round of any school building programme (funding permitting of course) there were still several other issues that are obviously frustrating the School Board.

I'll obviously try my best to keep a constructive dialogue going, even though I can't promise instant solutions to all the school's wishes!

Carrick Knowe Primary School this morning

Over to Carrick Knowe Primary School this morning ... really calm atmosphere throughout the school. Yet again, this was pretty evident within a few minutes of being in the building, and only re-inforced as I went around some of the classrooms with the Acting Head Teacher.

All of this, the more impressive when you consider the devasting issues that the school community have had to face this year.

Very seriously impressed.

Lismore Primary School Board this morning

I've been invited to a Lismore Primary School Board meeting later this morning ... suspect it may be a lively meeting, with some bridges to be built for sure! And it did turn out to be a much wider meeting than just the School Board - even Gavin Strang MP was there and actually chaired the gathering?

Did my utmost to reassure everyone that I wanted to see a successful future for the school - was undoubtedly an air of scepticism, but entirely understandable given the recent history of events surrounding the school. Tried to press home the message that as well as the Local Authority supporting and promoting the local school, the more important support and promotion would always come from the local community itself ... and to achieve that, everyone needs to move on from yesterdays' issues.

Not sure I fully succeeded in getting the message across??