Strategic Board for Teacher Education minutes: November 2022

Attendees and apologies

Sam Anson Scottish Government (Chair)

Scott Brand Scottish Government (Secretary)

Michael Wood Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES)

Sharon McLellan Association of Heads and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS)

Simon Cameron Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)

Duncan Laurie Early Career Teacher

David Burgess Education Scotland

Alison Weatherston Education Scotland

Welcome & Introductions 

  

Apologies were noted from Barrie Sheppard and Susan Quinn 

  

Sam Anson welcomed members to the meeting and noted that David Burgess was substituting for Lesley Whelan and that Alison Weatherston was attending for the item on the Evaluation of the Into Headship Programme.  

  

Minute of the Previous Meeting (14 October 2022)  

  

It was agreed that the following amendments be made to the draft minute before publication: 

  

• page 3 6th bullet to be amended to reflect that the Flexible Route is separate from the Teacher Induction Scheme 

• page 4 ES PL Offer – 1st bullet of members comments to be amended to reflect Headteachers in Independent schools are not required to hold the Standard for Headship rather than the Into Headship qualification 

  

Action point: Secretariat to publish the revised minute of the 14 October meeting and supporting papers on the Scottish Government website. 

  

  

  

  

Scottish Education Council update 

  

Jim Thewliss reported that SEC are content to consider issues from the Board and that we should submit these in advance to the Council. He added that this was an excellent opportunity to highlight important issues to the Council.  

  

Draft Remit 

  

Sam Anson introduced the revised draft remit. He said it aimed it to give a strategic overview and allow a partnership approach. Members made the following points: 

  

• the Leadership theme needs an additional bullet point on shared and executive headship at other issues the Board need to be aware of;  

  

• need to embed equity and anti-racism across the themes 

  

• page 3; regarding “the board recognising where organisations have responsibility” , the wording suggests non-transparency and needs amendment 

  

•  the need to work with employers should be highlighted 

  

Action point: Secretariat to revise the draft remit to take on board these comments. 

  

Workplan and revisit of Teaching Scotland’s Future 

  

Sam Anson introduced this item and said that members should incorporate any comments they have on the suggestion that we revisit the report “Teaching Scotland’s Future”. He added that a workshop could be arranged to further develop the workplan. Members made the following comments:- 

  

• A further document outlining the roles and responsibilities of the related groups may be helpful in driving delivery 

• need to agree policy direction for areas such as career pathways and masters level learning 

• need to ensure consistency and intersection with stakeholders workplans 

• need to ensure relevant policy reports are linked to or incorporated into the workplan 

• plan needs to be strategic to ensure it drives policy 

• priority areas should be tackled first 

• need to ensure equality issues are addressed especially for student teachers 

• identify flexible route in plan and the support required for these probationers  

• it is more than access to PL, need to recognise time and capacity 

• need to highlight professional trust and teacher autonomy 

• need to be more proactive in promoting leadership opportunities for BAME teachers 

• link to work of Diversity in Teaching Profession Working Group 

  

Sam said that the Secretariat would circulate the workplan to allow members to contribute further. The next stages would be to:- 

  

- develop a roles and responsibilities document of the various related groups to enhance the workplan 

- ensure wider educational landscape is reflected  

- add an aspirational vision   

  

Action point: Secretariat to circulate a revised workplan for comment. 

  

Intakes to ITE Programmes 

  

Scott Brand introduced this paper. He made the following points:- 

  

• The issue of recruitment challenges was raised at the Teacher Workforce Planning Advisory Group on 26 October 

• The main challenges are:- 

• Increase in hard to fill PGDE Secondary subjects 

• Increase in minority ethnic students 

• Address shortages in geographical areas 

• while there was an increase in applications to ITE programmes during the pandemic this has not continued. This trend is being seen across the UK and probably links to a high number of vacancies in the labour market 

• The suggestions in the paper have been raised in meetings of the TWPAG but are certainly not exhaustive. These are:- 

• more recruitment from college and within universities 

• more flexibility in entry requirements 

• widening curriculum choice 

• more effective use of primary teachers in BGE 

  

Members made the following comments:- 

  

• There is a concern that lack of permanent posts is creating disillusionment within the profession. Do targets need to be decreased to help the situation.  

• There are conflicting views on entry requirements and there is a direct link to ability to undertake Masters level learning. More evidence is needed to identify what the barriers are. Standards cannot be diluted and candidates must have the skills to complete programmes  

• need to ensure we do not look at recruitment in isolation as there is a direct link with probation  

• university Admissions Officers have formed a short life working group on recruitment in Secondary PGDE. Updates will be provided to the Board 

• It was considered that looking to university undergraduates maybe too late in the recruitment process. There was a suggestion to actively target the school community including parents. SCES have resources that target S3-S6 into teaching 

• ITE should be more accessible through part-time routes 

• have we analysed drop-out rates from programmes to identify reasons 

• workload, pay and security of employment all factors in reduced recruitment  

• some employers are using TIS as an alternative to offering permanent contracts   

• widening curriculum choice was challenging due to policy on attainment 

• A more mobile profession should be encouraged 

• Additional teachers needed to meet class contact time reduction 

• given the importance of early intervention should additional teachers be planned for early years 

• introducing flexibility in registration categories would dilute the quality of learning and teaching and may not be attractive to teachers. Primary teachers are not qualified to teach secondary aged students and should not be asked to do so 

• need to ensure we use evidence based decision making 

  

Action Point – Scottish Government to map activity in this area and consider next steps 

  

  

Evaluation of Into Headship Programme 

  

Alison Weatherston presented on this item. She made the following points: 

  

• The programme was introduced in 2015 and supports the regulatory need to have the Standard for Headship for all newly appointed headteachers in publicly funded schools 

• professor Alma Harris has carried out the evaluation with the aim of reflecting, informing and offering insights based on the data collected 

• main summary highlights are that the programme is a real strength of the system and worthy of international recognition 

• The need for protected or dedicated time to undertake the programme was raised by participants 

• The report concludes that the programme produces accomplished, thoughtful and strategic leaders 

  

It was raised that the number of BAME teachers registered needs to be increased and ES stated that they intended to target BAME teachers in the recruitment for the next cohort. 

  

Action Point - Members were asked to submit direct to Alison any further questions they have on this report. 

  

Education Scotland Professional Learning and Leadership Impact Report  

  

David Burgess introduced this item. He said that the impact report gathered views on the various programmes that Education Scotland delivered.  These included middle, school and system leadership.  

  

Action Point - Members were asked to submit direct to David any views they have on usefulness of the format and data presented. 

  

AOB 

  

There was no AOB. 

  

Schedule of meeting dates for 2022/23 and future agenda items 

  

The dates for future meetings are: 

  

Tuesday 31 January, 10.30 am – 12.00 

Wednesday 29 March, 10.00 am – 11.30 am 

Wednesday 31 May, 10.00 am – 11.30 am 

Pauline Stephen General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS)

Tara Lillis NASUWT

Margery McMahon Scottish Council of Deans of Education (SCDE)

Jim Thewliss School Leaders Scotland (SLS)

Barbara Coupar Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES)

Seamus Searson Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA)

Khadija Mohammed University of the West of Scotland (UWS)

Stuart Robb Scottish Government

Keya Raksith Scottish Government

Lucy Rudkin Scottish Government

Items and actions

Welcome & Introductions

Apologies were noted from Barrie Sheppard and Susan Quinn

Sam Anson welcomed members to the meeting and noted that David Burgess was substituting for Lesley Whelan and that Alison Weatherston was attending for the item on the Evaluation of the Into Headship Programme.

 

Minute of the Previous Meeting (14 October 2022)

It was agreed that the following amendments be made to the draft minute before publication:

• page 3 6th bullet to be amended to reflect that the Flexible Route is separate from the Teacher Induction Scheme

• page 4 ES PL Offer – 1st bullet of members comments to be amended to reflect Headteachers in Independent schools are not required to hold the Standard for Headship rather than the Into Headship qualification

  action point: Secretariat to publish the revised minute of the 14 October meeting and supporting papers on the Scottish Government website.

Scottish Education Council update 

Jim Thewliss reported that SEC are content to consider issues from the Board and that we should submit these in advance to the Council. He added that this was an excellent opportunity to highlight important issues to the Council.

 

Draft Remit

Sam Anson introduced the revised draft remit. He said it aimed it to give a strategic overview and allow a partnership approach. Members made the following points: 

• the Leadership theme needs an additional bullet point on shared and executive headship at other issues the Board need to be aware of;

• need to embed equity and anti-racism across the themes

• page 3; regarding “the board recognising where organisations have responsibility” , the wording suggests non-transparency and needs amendment

•  the need to work with employers should be highlighted

action point: Secretariat to revise the draft remit to take on board these comments.

  

Workplan and revisit of Teaching Scotland’s Future

Sam Anson introduced this item and said that members should incorporate any comments they have on the suggestion that we revisit the report “Teaching Scotland’s Future”. He added that a workshop could be arranged to further develop the workplan. Members made the following comments:

• A further document outlining the roles and responsibilities of the related groups may be helpful in driving delivery

• need to agree policy direction for areas such as career pathways and masters level learning

• need to ensure consistency and intersection with stakeholders workplans

• need to ensure relevant policy reports are linked to or incorporated into the workplan

• plan needs to be strategic to ensure it drives policy

• priority areas should be tackled first

• need to ensure equality issues are addressed especially for student teachers

• identify flexible route in plan and the support required for these probationers

• it is more than access to PL, need to recognise time and capacity

• need to highlight professional trust and teacher autonomy

• need to be more proactive in promoting leadership opportunities for BAME teachers

• link to work of Diversity in Teaching Profession Working Group

 

Sam said that the Secretariat would circulate the workplan to allow members to contribute further. The next stages would be to:

• develop a roles and responsibilities document of the various related groups to enhance the workplan
• ensure wider educational landscape is reflected
• add an aspirational vision

 Action point: Secretariat to circulate a revised workplan for comment.

 

Intakes to ITE Programmes

 Scott Brand introduced this paper. He made the following points:

The issue of recruitment challenges was raised at the Teacher Workforce Planning Advisory Group on 26 October

• The main challenges are:

• Increase in hard to fill PGDE Secondary subjects

• Increase in minority ethnic students

• Address shortages in geographical areas

• while there was an increase in applications to ITE programmes during the pandemic this has not continued. This trend is being seen across the UK and probably links to a high number of vacancies in the labour market

• The suggestions in the paper have been raised in meetings of the TWPAG but are certainly not exhaustive. These are:

• more recruitment from college and within universities

• more flexibility in entry requirements

• widening curriculum choice

• more effective use of primary teachers in BGE

 

Members made the following comments:

• There is a concern that lack of permanent posts is creating disillusionment within the profession. Do targets need to be decreased to help the situation

• There are conflicting views on entry requirements and there is a direct link to ability to undertake Masters level learning. More evidence is needed to identify what the barriers are Standards cannot be diluted and candidates must have the skills to complete programmes

• need to ensure we do not look at recruitment in isolation as there is a direct link with probation

• university Admissions Officers have formed a short life working group on recruitment in Secondary PGDE. Updates will be provided to the Board

• It was considered that looking to university undergraduates maybe too late in the recruitment process. There was a suggestion to actively target the school community including parents. SCES have resources that target S3-S6 into teaching

• ITE should be more accessible through part-time routes

• have we analysed drop-out rates from programmes to identify reasons

• workload, pay and security of employment all factors in reduced recruitment

• some employers are using TIS as an alternative to offering permanent contracts

• widening curriculum choice was challenging due to policy on attainment

• A more mobile profession should be encouraged

• Additional teachers needed to meet class contact time reduction

• given the importance of early intervention should additional teachers be planned for early years

• introducing flexibility in registration categories would dilute the quality of learning and teaching and may not be attractive to teachers. Primary teachers are not qualified to teach secondary aged students and should not be asked to do so

• need to ensure we use evidence based decision making

  Action Point – Scottish Government to map activity in this area and consider next steps

 

Evaluation of Into Headship Programme

Alison Weatherston presented on this item. She made the following points:

• The programme was introduced in 2015 and supports the regulatory need to have the Standard for Headship for all newly appointed headteachers in publicly funded schools

• professor Alma Harris has carried out the evaluation with the aim of reflecting, informing and offering insights based on the data collected

• main summary highlights are that the programme is a real strength of the system and worthy of international recognition

• The need for protected or dedicated time to undertake the programme was raised by participants

• The report concludes that the programme produces accomplished, thoughtful and strategic leaders

It was raised that the number of BAME teachers registered needs to be increased and ES stated that they intended to target BAME teachers in the recruitment for the next cohort.

Action Point - Members were asked to submit direct to Alison any further questions they have on this report.

  

Education Scotland Professional Learning and Leadership Impact Report

  

David Burgess introduced this item. He said that the impact report gathered views on the various programmes that Education Scotland delivered.  These included middle, school and system leadership.

Action Point - Members were asked to submit direct to David any views they have on usefulness of the format and data presented

  

AOB

 

There was no AOB.

 

Schedule of meeting dates for 2022/23 and future agenda items

The dates for future meetings are: 

Tuesday 31 January, 10.30 am – 12.00 

Wednesday 29 March, 10.00 am – 11.30 am 

Wednesday 31 May, 10.00 am – 11.30 am