Provisions of the Education (Scotland) Bill: consultation

Summary Of Questions And Respondent Information Form

Question 1
The Headteachers’ Charter will empower headteachers as the leaders of learning and teaching and as the lead decision maker in how the curriculum is designed and provided in their schools. What further improvements would you suggest to enable headteachers to fulfil this empowered role?

Question 2
The Headteachers’ Charter will empower headteachers to develop their school improvement plans collaboratively with their school community. What improvements could be made to this approach?

Question 3
The Charter will set out the primacy of the school improvement plan. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach?

Question 4
The Headteachers’ Charter will set out the freedoms which headteachers should have in relation to staffing decisions.

a. What are the advantages and disadvantages of headteachers being able to have greater input into recruitment exercises and processes adopted by their local authority?

b. What are the advantages and disadvantages of headteachers’ ability to choose their teams and decide on the promoted post structure within their schools?

Question 5
Should headteachers be able to decide how the funding allocated to their schools for the delivery of school education is spent? If so, what is the best way of doing this?

Question 6
How could local authorities increase transparency and best involve headteachers and school communities in education spending decisions?

Question 7
What types of support and professional learning would be valuable to headteachers in preparing to take up the new powers and duties to be set out in the Headteachers’ Charter?

Question 8
Are the broad areas for reform to the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 correct?

Question 9
How should the the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 be enhanced to ensure meaningful consultation by headteachers with parents on substantive matters of school policy, improvement planning and curricula design?

Question 10
Should the duties and powers in relation to parental involvement apply to publicly funded early learning and childcare settings?

Question 11
Should the Bill include a requirement that all schools in Scotland pursue the principles of pupil participation set out in Chapter 3? Should this be included in the Headteachers’ Charter?

Question 12
What are your thoughts on the proposal to create a general duty to support pupil participation, rather than specific duties to create Pupil Councils, committees etc…?

Question 13
Should the Bill include provisions requiring each local authority to collaborate with partner councils and with Education Scotland in a Regional Improvement Collaborative?

Question 14
Should the Bill require each Regional Improvement Collaborative to maintain and to publish annually its Regional Improvement Plan?

Question 15
If we require Regional Improvement Collaboratives to report on their achievements (replacing individual local authority reports), should they be required to report annually? Would less frequent reporting (e.g. every two years) be a more practical and effective approach?

Question 16
In making changes to the existing planning and reporting cycle, should we consider reducing the frequency of national improvement planning and the requirement on Ministers to review the National Improvement Framework?

Question 17
Are the proposed purpose and aims of the Education Workforce Council for Scotland appropriate?

Question 18
What other purpose and aims might you suggest for the proposed Education Workforce Council for Scotland?

Question 19
Are the proposed functions of the Education Workforce Council for Scotland appropriate?

Question 20
What other functions might you suggest for the proposed Education Workforce Council for Scotland?

Question 21
Which education professionals should be subject to mandatory registration with the proposed Education Workforce Council for Scotland?

Question 22
Should the Education Workforce Council for Scotland be required to consult on the fees it charges for registration?

Question 23
Which principles should be used in the design of the governance arrangements for the proposed Education Workforce Council for Scotland?

Question 24
By what name should the proposed Education Workforce Council for Scotland be known?