Five teachers from West Dunbartonshire have been brought together to form a dedicated team to drive home the Council’s new strategy for improving education results.
The group will each be based within the area’s five secondary schools and they will focus on improving pupil achievement. Working with head teachers and other staff, they’ll look to drive through new ideas and share best practice with each other so that together the schools all benefit.
In addition the Council’s Educational Services department is setting ambitious targets for future improvement, with increased support provided to secondary schools to help them meet these goals.
The Council will also be holding special master classes in English, Maths, History, Geography, Chemistry and Physics for pupils during the exam preparation period.
Councillors have given the thumbs up to all these actions as part of a long-term improvement campaign called Learn Achieve Succeed. It officially kicks off on 3 February with a series of posters on buses across West Dunbartonshire encouraging pupils to visit www.learnachievesucceed.co.uk for study tips and exam advice. This is the just the beginning of the Council’s attempts to create a dedicated online advice resource that shows pupils how to achieve better results.
Senior staff are confident that the new campaign can help improve the levels of attainment in all secondary schools.
Terry Lanagan, Executive Director for Educational Services, said: “Across West Dunbartonshire there are examples of individual schools and departments which are doing well but we want to see very good work in every school and department. Staff, parents, pupils and councillors are united with me in a desire to achieve more and so this campaign is focused on how we can help our young people to achieve their full potential.
“This needs to be an open and honest approach that identifies where things aren’t working and then puts in place corrective measures. This is a really exciting development in which everyone has a role to play. I am confident that if we work together then we really can start to see some big improvements.”
Councillor Jonathan McColl, Convener of Education, said: “I’m delighted to see this campaign get underway and I think it is something that we really need in West Dunbartonshire. We know we have high levels of deprivation and it is up to education to play its part in tackling that by providing every pupil with the opportunity to maximise their potential and get the best results they possibly can. We can and must do better, but the actions being introduced give me a lot of hope for the future.
“It is also important to recognise that this isn’t just about teachers. Parents and pupils also contribute greatly to achieving improved results. That is why the Council has established its new online advice resource at learnachievesucceed.co.uk where they can find study guides, exam advice, support available from libraries and much much more.”
Councillors will receive a progress update on Learn Achieve Succeed in May 2012.
