In July, Mr Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Further and Higher Education and Veterans announced that the report on the independent review of CLD had been published Learning: For All. For Life. A report from the Independent Review of Community Learning and Development (CLD).
Ms. Kate Still was appointed in December 2023 to conduct the Independent Review of Community Learning and Development (CLD), and ministers will consider and formally respond to the recommendations in due course.
CLD Standards Council Members had a clear contribution to the review and the report is comprehensive, making reference to almost every aspect of CLD and offering 20 recommendations under 6 headings:
- Leadership and Structures – establishing a strategic leadership group.
- Overarching Policy Narrative – developing a clearer and more cohesive policy narrative.
- Focus on Delivery – publish a Delivery Plan by end of 2024
- Budgets and Funding – undertake an assessment of funding
- Developing workforce standards – consideration of HMIs inspection reports to be a standing item on Strategic leadership group
- Demonstrating Impact – annual celebration of CLD successes
There are 15 references to the CLD Standards Council in the report with clear recognition that “The CLD Standards Council, given the limited resources supporting its work, does a good job in raising standards across CLD, raising its profile and supporting those working in the sector”. There is an ask for an enhanced role for the CLD Standards Council and a recommendation that “The CLD Standards Council should be supported to transition towards an independent status more akin to the General Teaching Council Scotland.”.
We are working with Committee Members, Members and stakeholders to consider and respond to all recommendations within the report and have set up two opportunities for members to attend a Have Your Say event where we will share feedback in relation to the recommendations made in the CLD Review report.
Sessions will take place on Tuesday 20 August 2024 via MS Teams and you can choose to attend at 2-3.30 pm or 6.30-8 pm (members only need to attend one session). At the session, we will
- Invite members views regarding the report and its reflection of CLD.
- Review the key “asks” of members through our submissions and consider any connections to the report’s recommendations.
- Discuss the possible impact on the work and role of the CLD Standards Council.
- Gather members views on the recommendations for our formal response to the CLD review report and recommendations.