minutes 16 February 2001

ABERDEEN GUIDANCE NETWORK
MINUTES FOR THE MEETING OF 16 FEBRUARY 2001 at
Summerhill Education Centre

	item	issues	action
1	present	Doug Cameron (Bridge of Don Academy), Cliff Vincent (Bankhead Academy), Tina Stockman (Harlaw Academy), Liz Goodall (Torry Academy), Louise Franklin (Hazlehead Academy), Mary Thom (Kincorth Academy), Marian Sutherland (Aberdeen Grammar School), Janice Moir (Dyce Academy), Andy Parks (Cults Academy), Erica Watson (St Machar Academy), Celia Snodgrass (Linksfield Academy), Monica Dowie (Oldmachar Academy), Sandra Paterson (Northern College), Terry Ashton, Adviser (Guidance and Careers)
2	apologies	Northfield Academy Guidance team, Jerry Williams (Carden School)
3	Matters arising from minutes of previous meeting	Matters arising were procedures for persistent absenteeism: Despite two Guidance Teachers (Chris Ryburn and Neil Montgomery) having volunteered to be members of the Aberdeen City group set up to review the Home school Liaison services, they had still received no communication about meetings. Terry reminded the group of the annual workshop day of the Scottish Guidance Association on 24 February 2001 The Aberdeen City response to the draft sex education guidance had been sent off to Learning and Teaching Scotland after being approved by the Education and Leisure Committee of Aberdeen City Council, who had previously been briefed on the guidance and were very supportive. The final guidance would probably appear next term. Sandra Mojsiewicz, the Young People’s Counsellor, would join us at our next meeting. An inservice had been arranged on electronic UCAS applications for 21 and 22 May 2001 (one-day inservice – so everyone has a choice of day). Early application is advised, as places are limited.	Terry would investigate again. If a report has been produced, Terry will send to all network members.
4	Guest	Terry introduced Sandra Paterson (Northern College), who was visiting the meeting to establish contact with Guidance Teachers in Aberdeen. She gave us a brief overview of her work.
5	The work of Criagielea Children’s Centre	Unfortunately, due to illness and consequent staffing difficulties, no-one from Criagielea could be come.
6	Monitoring individual progress through Guidance	Terry reported that Carol Milne, Hazlehead, agreed to undertake some work on this on behalf on the Network, using our development days to. She has just started, and written round to schools and various other people nationally with the aim of collecting together good practice for dissemination within Aberdeen. She hope to look at two aspects of the topic Materials for recording progress The process of working, through guidance, with young people on a one-to-one basis to discuss progress. There was also discussion about PPMS, which is being trialled at Dyce Academy. There would also be a workshop about PPMS at the SGA workshop day.	Carol requests that schools should send to her at Hazlehead any materials that may have a bearing on her work on our behalf. Janice Moir would give us some feedback at the next meeting about how it is going. We might arrange a visit to Dyce in May for PTGs if that seemed to be beneficial.
7	Education for Citizenship	Terry outlined the contents of the consultation document and there was discussion about what should be included in the Aberdeen City response. There was general agreement about the importance of Education for Citizenship, and that it should not be a separate curricular subject, nor that PSE should be considered the only, or even the main vehicle for delivery. Terry would call a meeting of a group to consider the response.	Terry would invite volunteers to be part of the group. Anyone interested (there will be only one meeting on 9 March 2001) should contact Terry.
8	Careers Service Review	Terry outlined the Scottish Executive’s proposals for the Careers Service (documentation can be found on the Guidance/PSE website). The previously circulated paper summarises the main elements of the proposals. There was discussion – and general agreement about the importance of all-age guidance. The main concern was that the service offered by Grampian Careers should be at least as extensive and good as at present – preferably increased, although that probably wasn’t a realistic hope!	Terry would prepare a response after consulting with relevant people in the authority. Anyone with comments should send them to Terry – there will not be a formal meeting to discuss the response.
9	Guidance policy/handbook development in Aberdeen	Terry gave an update on the progress of the working group. The consultation with pupils, parents and teachers gave lots of useful information. The next task is to put together a draft document taking into account these comments. Janet Davidson (Depute at Kincorth) has agreed to do some development work to assist in getting a draft document started.
10	Drugs education and drugs incidents	Terry described the recent publication, Final Report of The School Drug Safety Team, which contains details of the management of incidents of drug misuse in schools effective drug education in schools teacher education and multi-agency training exchange of best practice conclusions and recommendations There was discussion about two of the recommendations in particular: 25. A review of the place of PSE within the school curriculum/structure which considers giving formal recognition to the status of PSE teaching should be undertaken. (page 16) 26. The Executive should commission the development of an additional teacher qualification in PSE. (page 16) While it was agreed that the status of and training for PSE should be raised, there was some concern that the agenda here was based on seeing PSE as different and not related to guidance, whereas network members saw PSE as part of the wider Guidance effort.
11	AOCB	Education for Work There was a reminder of the inservice course on 21 February. Most schools and Careers Advisers would take part in this UCAS applications A one-day inservice has been set up for 21 and 22 May (you can choose our day) when a trainer from UCAS will run a course on the electronic admissions system which UCAS would like to see as the predominant method of application with a few years. McCrone There was discussion about the possible consequences of the McCrone agreement. Members wondered what "job sizing" would mean in terms of guidance. The point was made that times have changed in guidance and the job is far more extensive and specialist than it used to be. Possible merger between Linksfield Academy and St Machar Academy There was discussion about the guidance implications of the merger, and in particular the effects on the wellbeing of pupils.	The McCrone agreement and its consequences would be put on the agenda for next time. Cliff Vincent agreed to update us on developments.