Education and Children's Services Committee May round-up
You can read the full papers from the meeting and watch back a recording by visiting https://aberdeenshire.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=153&MId=8400
Committee chair Cllr David Keating began the meeting by welcoming back Cllr Jenny Nicol back to the committee. Well wishes where offered to pupils sitting any final exams and for results day in August.
Director of Education Laurence Findlay then spoke regarding the probation teacher allocation for this year. Whilst primary level teacher numbers were said to be fine, secondary school allocation is at nine probationers, where the share, Mr Findlay said, should be around 44.
Aberdeenshire Temporary Closure Guidance: Primary Schools & Early Learning and Childcare Settings
Committee members were asked to consider and feedback on the proposed temporary closure guidance for primary schools and for early learning and childcare settings.
The new guidance comes following publication of the updated Scottish Government statutory guidance in December 2025 and the discussion at full council on the April 30.
Members heard that since full council in April, officers had considered both the internal and external stakeholder feedback and presented revised versions that reflected the changes.
Committee had an extensive discussion and also heard from Guy Haslam, speaking on behalf of Finzean Community Council, Birse and Ballogie Community Council, and Finzean School and Ballogie Nursery Parent Council.
Committee agreed to add an additional recommendation to the report: “To delegate authority to the Director of Education and Children’s Services, using his professional judgement and following consultation with the Chair, Vice Chair, Opposition Spokesperson, and the Spokesperson of the Alliance Group of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, to finalise the wording of the draft Temporary Closure Guidance for Primary Schools and Early Learning and Childcare settings prior to submission to Full Council in June.”
They also asked that officers from now on provide temporary closure guidance to all primary schools and early learning and childcare settings, as part of the annual school handbook; and that officers consider a review of report wording, prior to submission to Full Council in June, to reflect any positive attributes there may be to pupils of small rural schools.
Draft Annual Governance Statement 2025/26
The committee agreed and noted the Annual Governance Statement - an accountability statement from the council to stakeholders on how well it has delivered on governance over the course of the previous year.
Annual Scrutiny and Improvement Report 2025/26
The annual report allows committee to keep track of progress and ensure agreed actions have been implemented. Alongside this, it gives committee the opportunity to reflect on scrutiny undertaken and to agree future scrutiny requirements as part of an annual programme of activity.
Members then agreed the proposed programme of scrutiny activity for 2026/27.
ECS Directorate Strategic Plan 2026/27
Member heard that the report presents the ECS directorate's vision, priorities and key performance measures for the period ahead in delivering high quality services for children, young people, families and communities across Aberdeenshire.
Education & Children's Services Year-End Performance Monitoring Report - 2025/26
Members heard that the year-end performance report provides an update on performance across the directorate and the progress made against the council plan and directorate priorities.
Members were asked to consider and comment on the overall performance position and to note the updated approach to free school meals performance.
Following a discussion, members asked that officers provide a briefing note outlining the development of nutritional training initiatives, including delivery approach and potential impact on free school meal uptake, and to address the risks associated with withdrawing existing performance indicators.
Officers were also asked to circulate clarification to all committee members on the underperforming performance indicators, providing clarification of the underlying data, reasons for variance, and proposed corrective actions.
Attendance and Absence in Aberdeenshire Schools 2024/25
Committee heard the latest figures for attendance and absence in Aberdeenshire schools.
The report shows that attendance in 2024/25 was 92.8%, slightly higher than the previous year, which was 92.3%, and above the national figure of 91%.
Although attendance in schools across Scotland has decreased since Covid-19, attendance across Aberdeenshire schools remains amongst the highest in Scotland.
The report presented figures for initial school leaver destinations for leavers from Aberdeenshire schools in 2024/25.
The percentage of Aberdeenshire school leavers going to an initial positive post school destination in 2024/25 was 94.7% - lower than the figure for 2023/24 at 96.1% and the lowest figure when compared to the previous four years.
It was also lower than the Virtual Comparator and National figures of 96.2% and 95.7% respectively.
Most Aberdeenshire school leavers in 2024/25 went on to higher education, 45.4% compared with the previous year’s figure of 42.2%. Second highest destination was further education at 24.7%, which was down on the previous year’s figure of 29.1%. The third highest destination for school leavers in 2024-25 was employment at 22.6%, which is unchanged from the previous year.
Update on the Development of Foundation Apprenticeships in Aberdeenshire Schools
Members were given an update on progress made with the Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) agenda through Foundation Apprenticeships (FAs) in Aberdeenshire schools in the last year.
Following a discussion of the success of the scheme, committee agreed to “instruct the Director of Education & Children’s Services to write to the newly appointed Cabinet Secretary for Education to invite them to Aberdeenshire to observe the success of the Foundation Apprenticeship programme and to highlight workforce recruitment challenges”.
Transport Transformation: Safer Routes to School Consultation Outcomes
The report before committee provided an update on the Safer Routes to School project, focusing on the outcomes of the consultation on the proposed removal of discretionary school transport on the Uri Estate to Mackie Academy and a route between Checkbar and Portlethen Academy.
The work focused on reviewing discretionary transport provision where pupils live within statutory walking distances, in line with national guidance and council policy.
Members were asked to note that no decision is recommended at this stage in relation to the Ury Estate to Mackie Academy route and that a further report would be forthcoming.
Members also noted that the decision had been taken by the Head of Environment and Sustainability, under delegated powers, to proceed with the withdrawal of discretionary transport on the Checkbar to Portlethen Academy route, subject to the delivery of agreed mitigation, transition and monitoring measures.