Carrie Lindsay

To support effective partnership working between the Scottish Government and the ADES Executive, networks and members in the design and delivery of education policies and priorities to improve outcomes for Scotland’s learners.

Main functions

• Advise Scottish Government on all aspects of the Scottish education system from a local government/ADES perspective
• Advise Scottish Government on key national priorities, including Curriculum for Excellence, SAC, teacher and headteacher recruitment, education workforce planning etc
• Liaise with the ADES Executive, Directors’ Forum/Drop-in and ADES networks
• Ensure effective collaboration and communication between Scottish Government and ADES

Key current areas

• ADES leadership and engagement in the delivery of SAC activities to address the poverty-related attainment gap, including the implementation of the refreshed SAC programme and the approach to setting and achieving stretch aims.
• ADES engagement in Scotland’s education reform programme, including contributing to joint activity to support the delivery of:
  • renewed vision for Scottish education, to be set out in the National Discussion and any subsequent Scottish Government response;
  • future of assessment and national qualifications, to be set out in the Hayward Review and any subsequent Scottish Government response,
  • reform of our national bodies, as set out in the 09 March 2022 report and recommendations from Professor Ken Muir and the Scottish Government’s response
  • Roles and Responsibilities workstream, to provide clarity on the roles of the new national bodies in their relationships with practitioners, local authorities, RICs and other system partners.
  • supporting continued progress in school empowerment and collaborative improvement within the education reform context.

• ADES engagement with a range of education and early years priorities, including:

• strengthening parental and learner engagement in Scottish education;
  • providing clarity and continued progress on the delivery models for key programmes (incl. teacher numbers, NCCT, digital devices);
  • consultation and regulations related to learning hours;
  • work related to the supply of teachers (including on geographic and subject specific challenges);
  • progress with refining our use of data in relation to SSAILD and Insight,
  • supporting and promoting Gaelic medium education, Gaelic learning and Scots, including consideration of Gaelic and Scots issues and opportunities,
  • further embedding anti-racist principles within the education system, including diversity in the workforce
  • progress with the next phase of expansion of Free School Meals
  • Embedding participatory budgeting in the education system

What this looks like in practice

• To communicate effectively with ADES President; Vice President; General Secretary and Executive Committee on all aspects of work with Scottish Government
• To liaise with COSLA and advise COSLA officers on matters relating to education and children’s services
• To liaise as required with other national agencies, including Education Scotland, SQA, Parent bodies and professional associations
• To promote and develop ADES as an effective professional organisation and to represent ADES professionally and effectively in a range of contexts

How is the role of Executive Officer funded

The role of the Executive Officer is jointly funded by ADES and by the Scottish Government via a grant from Scottish Government to ADES.  The post is dependent on the continuation of funding from Scottish Government. The time allocated to the role is up to a maximum of 125 days per year. Collaborative Improvement work is over and above the 125 days per year.