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| 2001 Annual Report Index | Annual Report & AGM 2001 Index |
This year was one of mixed fortunes for everyone concerned with education matters in Scotland. The SSBA had scheduled our 10th Anniversary Conference for April, to be held in Dumfries. However, the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease brought great hardship to the rural community of that area and we felt that it would be insensitive to hold our conference at that time.
The rescheduled conference took place in October and we enjoyed the hospitality of Dumfries and Galloway Council. They demonstrated to our guests from home and abroad how they were coming back as a rural community and as a tourist destination with much to offer visitors.
With great interest and high hopes we all awaited the results of this years diet of SQA exams, would they get it right this time? With much relief for all concerned they did deliver on the promises made by the Education Minister. Thanks must surely go to the teachers and office staff in schools for keeping our young people focused.
This year has also marked the largest expansion of the organisation with eight more local authorities taking up our offer of group membership bringing the total to 24 out of the 32 authorities. This is due in no small part to the outstanding efforts of Ann, Jennifer and Jim in their "Roadshow Tour of Scotland's Local Authorities."
More training courses have been booked, more trainers recruited to deliver them, more handbooks ordered, new induction packs and booklets produced - all due to the profile raising efforts that have taken place.
The changes in personnel at the Scottish Executive also gave rise to mixed feelings. Jack McConnell proved to be a Minister that parents trusted with the future of Education. He promised and delivered the change to SQA, the real spirit of Parents as Partners was evident and then he was promoted to First Minister. We wished him well, but wondered who next? I am pleased to report that his appointed successor, Cathy Jamieson and her depute, Nicol Stephen are continuing the positive partnership that Jack started.
I have now been an Executive Board member for several years. I have been President for the last two years and presided over a talented group of Executive Board members both old and new as they took on the task of rebuilding and development for the 21st Century. I have admired the unstinting efforts of Ann, Jennifer and Jim as they delivered courses throughout the country and answered School Board members queries from the office.
I now pass the torch of President to my successor in whom I have every confidence, knowing that the interests of parents and children in Scotland's education system will be represented at the highest levels.
I thank you all for your support during the past two years.
Alan Smith
President
SSBA
2001 Annual Report by Alan Smith - President
| 1. | Membership of SSBA has risen again this year and now stands at 1967 individual School Boards as compared to 1753 last year. |
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| 2. | Education Authorities and School Boards are given the opportunity of joining the SSBA Group Membership scheme. The main difference in this type of membership is very simple – SSBA issues one invoice directly to the Education Department for all of their Boards and we receive one payment. This saves considerable time and effort for both parties. You still get the option not to join as we firmly believe that the decision to join should be made by yourselves. The monetary saving is quite substantial – a Board with over 100 pupils taking out individual membership will pay £45 per year whereas a Board which is part of the Group Membership scheme will only pay £35. Involvement in the Group Membership by Education Authorities now stands at 24 Councils as compared to 19 last year. The following Councils currently take advantage of the SSBA Group Membership scheme: |
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| Aberdeen City Council Aberdeenshire Council Argyll and Bute Council Clackmannanshire Council Dumfries and Galloway Council East Ayrshire Council East Dunbartonshire Council East Lothian Council East Renfrewshire Council Falkirk Council Glasgow City Council Highland Council |
Midlothian Council Moray Council North Ayrshire Council North Lanarkshire Council Perth and Kinross Council Renfrewshire Council Scottish Borders Council Shetland Islands Council South Ayrshire Council Stirling Council West Dunbartonshire Council Western Isles Council |
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| 3. | Executive Board members continue to play a crucial part in the decision making process in Scottish education. During the past few months we have seen John Tierney being appointed to the Scottish Executive Assessment Committee and Management Team and also myself appointed to the Religious and Moral Education Committee at the Scottish Executive. Gordon Stewart (our representative for Special Education Needs) continues to be a member of the Discipline Task Group. There are still a few vacancies on our 33 strong Executive Board but it is hoped that these will be filled shortly. |
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| 4. | Ann Hill, our Chief Executive along with Jennifer Gallacher from the SSBA office and Jim Manson our transport adviser have been travelling around Scotland during the past year providing each of the Education Authorities with an SSBA Roadshow. These roadshows have covered the following topics:
We will visit the Western Isles and Argyll and Bute shortly. These two areas will complete our SSBA Roadshow visit to all 32 Education Authorities. Topics concerning Boards identified at the Roadshows include:
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| 5. | SSBA continues to enjoy free office accommodation in Dumfries in southwest Scotland courtesy of the Council. Ann and Jennifer continue to be a ‘two women band’ and we recognise that we need more full time staff. The Finance Group are taking a serious look at how we can raise funds to help reduce the amount of hours they are both working. We have two part time staff who are used on an ‘as needs’ basis. We have also increased the number of School Board training tutors this year and can now cover most of Scotland on request. |
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| 6. | SSBA Website and Discussion Forums www.schoolboard-scotland.com - SSBA continues to update its website on a regular basis. We have also launched a discussion site recently. This is on a trial basis only so we would appreciate your input into what should be discussed. An obvious topic would be the national debate so let us know what your ideas are on this subject. |
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| 7. | Young people in P5, P6 and P7 were asked to design a poster which could depict alternative activities to crime. This competition was run in partnership with all eight Scottish Police Forces and the Crime Prevention Unit at the Scottish Executive. The quality of the entries was amazing and the final poster combined the winning entries from each of the eight police areas to form one poster. The winners were: Charlotte Dawson, P7, Farr High School Primary, Thurso - Northern Constabulary Ainsley Hards, P5, Bargarran Primary – Strathclyde Police Courtney McDaid, P7, St Kenneth’s Primary, Ballingry – Fife Constabulary Melissa MacRae, P7, Duncow Primary – Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary Chloe Marr, P6, Tranent Primary – Lothian and Borders Police Fiona Robertson, P6, Markethill Primary – Grampian Police Calum Rowan, P5, Dunblane Primary – Central Scotland Police Catherine Tait, P6, Inchture Primary – Tayside Police The posters have been distributed throughout Scotland by the Police. |
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| 8. | SSBA 10th Anniversary Conference We celebrated our 10th anniversary twice this year. The first time on the 1st May in Dumfries with a presentation to Dumfries and Galloway Education Committee who were presented with a crystal bowl to thank them for their continuous support over the past 10 years. They provide SSBA with free office space and an immense amount of goodwill and helpful advice. Our conference planned for April/May had to be postponed due to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Dumfries and Galloway. It was rescheduled for November. The four day conference saw visitors from all over the world descending on Dumfries. The subject of the conference was "Learning for Life" and involved people from all walks of educational life from the very young to the very old. |
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| 9. | Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education We have met with HMIE to discuss the review of "How good is our school" and how the review will impact on School Boards. Bill Clark, HMIE will be presenting this document at a number of SSBA conferences throughout Scotland during the year. School Board members and parents have also been invited to become lay members of HM Inspection Teams. |
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| 10. | Congratulations and thanks must go to Margaret Doran of Stirling Council Education Department on her Chairmanship of the Discipline Task Force. Gordon Stewart, SSBA Executive Board member for Special Educational Needs was a member of this group. |
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| 11. | During the year we have had a number of experts invited to the Executive Board meetings to present their speciality and to discuss issues of interest with the Board members. These guests have included: Gordon Jeyes, Director of Education for Stirling and Secretary to the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES) – Gordon spoke on the implementation of the McCrone Report. Carolyn Hutchinson, Quality and Assessment Unit at the Scottish Executive – Carolyn explained the new Assessment programme. Gabriella Pieraccini, National Debate Team at the Scottish Executive asked for SSBA’s assistance in encouraging everyone to get involved in the debate between March and June. |
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| 12. | We recently carried out a survey on the provision of School Board training from 1999 to 2001. It provided us with the evidence we needed to approach both the Government and the Local Authorities with our concerns on the lack of School Board training provided in some of the Council areas. In the two year period the following courses were provided: * 4 areas provided over 20 courses * 5 areas provided between 10 and 19 courses * 18 areas provided under 10 courses * 5 areas provided no courses Following discussion with all Directors of Education on this subject SSBA have been asked to provide School Board training in 12 of the local authorities between January and Easter 2002. Five other authorities are providing their own. We will be contacting the remaining Education Departments to try and persuade them to provide you with suitable training. |
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| 13. | Higher Still Assessment Questionnaire School Boards asked that any committee reviewing the current system should take into account the following points of concern:
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| 14. | We are currently revisiting the questions we have asked you over the past 10 years to see if your opinion has changed on the various subjects listed below:
Results of the consultation will be launched at the 2002 AGM in Musselburgh in March. |
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| 15. | This year has seen more publications launched by SSBA. Publications now include: NEW TRAINING PACKS
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| 16. | This service to members continues to grow and keeps the office staff extremely busy. Enquiries range from questions about the changes to legislation, what can be discussed at a Board meeting, who is in charge of setting the Agenda, etc. I am delighted to say that SSBA is now recognised by both the Scottish Executive and the Local Authorities as an excellent provider of information to School Boards. We get a great many calls from Boards who have been advised to contact us as "experts in this field".
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| 17. | The Accounts were prepared by Farries, Kirk and McVean, Chartered Accountants, Castle Street, Dumfries and are contained within this report. SSBA continues to be self funded.
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March 2002
