Convener response to Scottish Government Statement on Education Governance

Cllr Jim Paterson, Renfrewshire Council’s Convener for Education and Children’s Services, said: “We welcome any changes which seek to make improvements to education and attainment for children and young people.

“We have already shown our commitment to this cause through signing up to the attainment challenge and working with the Scottish Government to raise attainment levels for all.

“Through our work with our partners we are already seeing the positive impacts of collaborative working. Our voluntary partnership with Glasgow City region is in its early stages but is already delivering positive impacts for children and young people.

“Local authorities play an essential role in the lives of children and young people by developing and implementing policy while allowing schools the flexibility to make changes which matter on at a local level. We are determined to make a difference in closing the attainment gap for pupils and helping all our young people reach their full potential. We believe we are on track to delivering this change.

“The implications of the changes to governance outlined today are complex and will take time to develop. Careful consideration will need to be given in order to ensure that we deliver the best possible outcome for all children and young people in Renfrewshire and we look forward to working with Scottish Government to deliver continued improvements.”