Engage NewsA group of headteachers will share their experience of raising attainment to generate new ideas and the best approaches to drive up attainment across Scotland.

Education Secretary Michael Russell has set up the group, which will draw on the wide ranging and extensive experience of its five members, to provide a renewed focus on improving and monitoring attainment.

Education Secretary Michael Russell said:

“Scottish schools are providing our young people with a good education that international comparisons show is consistently above the global average. I want to build on this and make sure our system continues to improve.

“I firmly believe that our teachers and school leaders are the ones who can make a real difference to our record on attainment and that’s why I’ve set up a group of people who have wide-ranging experience of leading learning and teaching in schools and beyond to have an intensive look at what more can be done.

“There’s no doubt that pockets of best practice and genuinely great ideas exist, this group will be considering many of these and using their knowledge and experience to recommend the best approaches to raise attainment across Scotland.”

The attainment group consists of four experienced headteachers and a Quality Improvement Manager. It will provide proposals to the Scottish Government by the end of the year.

The members of the group are:

Val Corry – Headteacher,  Balfron High School, Stirling

Anne Paterson – Quality Improvement Manager, Argyll and Bute

Lindsey Robertson –  Headteacher, Castleview Primary School, Edinburgh

Arlene Black – Headteacher, Williamston Primary School, West Lothian

Brian McAlinden – retired Headteacher, Castlemilk High School, Glasgow