Aberdeen – City of Learning Annette Bruton – Director of Education, Culture and Sport

1. Aberdeen – City of Learning Annette Bruton – Director of Education, Culture and Sport

2. Aberdeen: City of LearningContext • Economic context and financial planning • Strategic change • Range and remit of the Education, Culture and Sport • Demographics and other key change drivers • Partnership working

3. City of Learning – what do we mean • Lifelong learning • Learning communities • Learning and working together • The child within the family within the community

4. It's not only children who grow.  Parents do too.  As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours.  I can't tell my children to reach for the sun.  All I can do is reach for it, myself.  (Joyce Maynard) What's done to children, they will do to society.  (Karl Menninger) Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty.  (Henry Ford)

5. City of Learning: What do we mean by learning? • Learning takes place throughout life and involves both formal and informal learning, and which should include everyone: children and young people of all ages; adults, both in and out of employment; workplace training; further and higher education; learning and development which is tailored to communities, individuals and families. • Learning is for everyone and that many people are involved as participants and educators. • Learning is done collectively as well as by individuals

6. What do we mean by learning (2) • We see learning as a vehicle to help build on the capacities of individuals, communities, groups and organisations to contribute to the social, economic and environmental well being of the city, whilst also addressing barriers and gaps which inhibit learning from occurring. • It emphasises collaboration and partnership and facilitates stronger linkages between the formal learning (school education) and the learning that takes place in the home and family, in communities and in the workplace.

7. City of Learning – Priorities • Curriculum for Excellence • Helping those with different needs • Working together • Learning in the wider community • Fit-for-purpose schools/learning centres • Technology • Skilled and trained staff • Value for money • Community health and well being • Community engagement in culture, arts and heritage

8. City of Learning – Our Goals • People have the basic skills to enable them to participate in economic, social and civic life; • Opportunities and participation in learning within the community are increased, and aspiration is raised. • People achieve the skills they need for sustained employment. • Progression to further and higher education is a shared aspiration and is accessible to all areas of the community.

9. City of Learning: making it work • Good leadership at all levels • People matter • Transparency - integrity & honesty • Delivering public value & best value • Innovative • Ambitious/aspirational • Collegiate & working in partnership • Dynamic – solution orientated • Clear Accountability • Customer focussed • Connected to front line • Strategic planning and vision

10. Aberdeen – A City of Learning