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| School quality 'varies too much' | School quality 'varies too much' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Variations in the performance of Scotland's schools are "too great", according to a major new study. | Variations in the performance of Scotland's schools are "too great", according to a major new study. |
| The HM Inspectors report is the first complete picture of all Scotland's 32 education authorities and has taken six years to compile. | |
| Inspectors said many were making a real difference to their schools but most were just meeting basic requirements. | Inspectors said many were making a real difference to their schools but most were just meeting basic requirements. |
| The report also said the effectiveness of an authority was linked to the quality of its leadership. | The report also said the effectiveness of an authority was linked to the quality of its leadership. |
| The watchdog said in more than a quarter of councils the work of staff was only fair. | The watchdog said in more than a quarter of councils the work of staff was only fair. |
| And a quarter were judged only fair or unsatisfactory when it came to managing money and other resources. | And a quarter were judged only fair or unsatisfactory when it came to managing money and other resources. |
| More needs to be done to work cooperatively and to share good practice Graham DonaldsonSenior Chief Inspector of Education | |
| It also said there were emerging difficulties in recruiting and sustaining high quality leaders. | It also said there were emerging difficulties in recruiting and sustaining high quality leaders. |
| The survey found that just 10 education bodies had sustained high-quality leaders over the years, while nine authorities were judged to have major or important weaknesses in this regard. | |
| Scottish Borders was the worst performer, with 40% of its indicators receiving the bottom grade. | |
| Elements of Moray, Shetland and East Dunbartonshire authorities' services were also "unsatisfactory". At the other end of the scale, East Renfrewshire was rated "very good" in all areas. | |
| 'More vulnerable' | |
| And East Ayrshire, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling and West Lothian all had a majority of their indicators assessed as "very good". | |
| Other authorities, such as Aberdeen City Council, had their education authority rated primarily as fair. | |
| The report noted there was no direct relationship between the size of a council and its effectiveness. | The report noted there was no direct relationship between the size of a council and its effectiveness. |
| Senior Chief Inspector of Education Graham Donaldson said: "We found no direct comparison between size and effectiveness, but small councils are more vulnerable. | Senior Chief Inspector of Education Graham Donaldson said: "We found no direct comparison between size and effectiveness, but small councils are more vulnerable. |
| "In particular, priority must be given to identifying and supporting future leaders. | "In particular, priority must be given to identifying and supporting future leaders. |
| "There is also encouraging evidence that many authorities are increasingly working in partnership with other services, and more needs to be done to work cooperatively and to share good practice. | "There is also encouraging evidence that many authorities are increasingly working in partnership with other services, and more needs to be done to work cooperatively and to share good practice. |
| Study report | |
| "Such joint working will be essential if emerging issues of capacity and quality are to be addressed." | "Such joint working will be essential if emerging issues of capacity and quality are to be addressed." |
| The Scottish Executive welcomed the report and said its contents would be studied carefully. | |
| A spokesman said: "The report confirms that council's can make a key contribution to improving quality in schools and HMIe have identified much good practice which is clearly adding value. | |
| "However, wide variation in performance exists across council's and some have much work to do to match the standards of the best." | |
| A spokesman for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) said it would need to study the report carefully as it had not seen it ahead of publication. | A spokesman for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) said it would need to study the report carefully as it had not seen it ahead of publication. |