minutes 2 October 2002

	item	description	action
1	Present	Representatives from Dyce Academy, Northfield Academy, Bankhead Academy, Aberdeen Grammar School, Torry Academy, Kincorth Academy, Bridge of Don Academy, Hazlehead Academy, St Machar Academy, Oldmachar Academy, Cults Academy; Elaine Forbes, Drug Development officer 3-11, Aileen Kirkwood, Drug Development Officer 12-18, Sandra Mojsiewicz, Young Person’s Counsellor, Terry Ashton, Adviser (Guidance and Careers).
	Apologies	Harlaw Academy Guidance team (who had an important PSE event at school).
1	Drug Education	Aileen and Elaine outlined their work as Drug Development Officers. They will work part time until Christmas to assist schools in ensuring that their drug education programmes correspond to national guidelines evaluate existing resources and decide on what new resources might be needed to fill the gaps (each school will get resources of their choice to the value of approx £140 assist schools in ensuring progression in drug education (including P7-S1 progression)	Elaine and Aileen will be writing to schools soon. They can be contacted at Akirkwood@education.aberdeen.net.uk and Eforbes@education.aberdeen.net.uk Schools should invite them in for discussion and assistance (eg to Guidance meeting) More details of the secondments are on the website
2	Careers Scotland and Career Education	John MacBean (Hazlehead), John Cowie (Kincorth), Lynda Carnie (Oldmachar) and Terry Ashton had attended a Careers Scotland conference in Dundee on 24 September 2002. John summarised the conference for the meeting. The main contribution was by Sheila Semple who outlined the implications of the important national document Career Education in Scotland - A National Framework and its links with PSE and Education for Work. A new resource publication from Careers Scotland, which will be sent to schools soon, outlines various resources suggested by careers Scotland in its role as a support for Career Education. This item led to discussion on other related topics such as the future of Progress File materials, which were seen as rather lack-lustre. the relationship between Progress File and Personal Learning Plans, which might well replace Progress File the need to help young people – and parents – to know that apprenticeships were a very realistic possibility for some youngsters, but were generally attracting far too few takers. the role of Careers Scotland in relation to support for schools, which is likely to become clearer over the next few months.	Each member would report back to their Guidance team on this – and ensure that the team is familiar with the implications of the document.
3	National Review of Guidance	Terry outlined the scope of the national review on guidance. Details can be found on the website	It was decided that the Network would compile a short initial submission to the review group to draw attention to the issues which it should definitely consider, so that the Aberdeen approach to Guidance is not forgotten amidst the issues of other authorities. Judy Palmer (Bankhead), Doug Cameron (Bridge of Don) and John MacBean will meet at 1.30pm on 1 November to produce a short paper which will then be e-mailed to everyone for comment before sending it off to SEED. If you anything to tell the subgroup that you wish them to include, please e-mail Terry
	Young People’s Counsellor	Sandra gave us an update on her work as she begins year 3 of the project. The initiative is a great success and there is no lessening of demand – in fact, demand is far too great for one person. Family issues, for example, cannot be fully taken on board because of workload. It is extremely encouraging that the counsellor has become an integral part of the schools she serves. There is a continual search for further funding, both to carry on with the initiative and to extend it to other areas of Aberdeen. A comprehensive bid was submitted under the SEN Innovation fund, but was unsuccessful. A further bid has been put into the Princess Diana Trust, and we will know the outcome by December. Sandra also mentioned the new counselling service for young people by Couple Counselling Grampian
4	Monitoring Progress	The materials prepared by Carol Milne will be available soon and circulated to schools.
5	Inservice day 15 November	Terry reminded everyone that on 15 November there will be a full day’s inservice on Dealing with Bereavement. This is the result of a pilot programme by the Scottish Council for Research in education (SCRE), who will run the day. Any school participating will receive a free copy of the materials.	Members would draw this opportunity to the attention of Guidance teams. For more details see the website
6	The Development of the Curriculum in Secondary Schools	The group discussed the paper which Brian Wood had outlined to us at the last meeting. Although the consultation period has just finished, it would be possible to put in some late ideas if necessary.	Each member would go back to their team and discuss. If any ideas which had not already been submitted by the school were required, they should be send to Brian Wood at Summerhill by the end of the October break.
7	Development Plan	The only pressing development work was to undertake work related to the national review of Guidance	It was decided to submit this as our development plan, and to ask initially for 4 x 0.5 days cover to prepare the paper outlined above.
8	CPD needs	The groups discussed suggestions for professional development activities not already covered by the staff development programme. Terry also raised the issue of how people would react to twilight courses. On a scale of 1 to 10, enthusiasm for this rated around minus 5!!	Terry was asked to investigate the possibility of including the following (either this session or next) dealing with sensitive issues specific needs relating to inclusion eg dealing with transitions and helping parents working together – multi-agency, multidisciplinary working (including working with various pupil support staff in school)
9	Domestic Abuse materials	Terry distributed some materials kindly made available to us by Fife Council, and also a document With All Due Respect, produced by the Scottish Executive about the role of schools in promoting respect and caring for self and others
10	Items for next meeting	Items suggested were our submission to the national review and the progress of the review result of the consultation on The Development of the Curriculum is Secondary Schools update on drug education Guidance inspections – with particular contributions from those who have experienced them
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