Languages Strategic Implementation Group (SIG)
Meeting No 1, Tuesday 7th May 2013
Victoria Quay, Edinburgh
Note of Meeting
Attendees
Belinda Greer
Tim Simons
Fiona Pate
Sarah Breslin
Carol Snow
James Forbes
Tom Hamilton
John Urquhart
Sue Langlands
Toria Fraser
Association of Directors of Education (ADES); co-chair
Head of Curriculum Unit, Scottish Government (SG); co-chair
Education Scotland (ES)
Scotland’s National Centre for Languages (SCILT)
National Parent Forum of Scotland (NPFS)
Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA)
General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS)
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA)
SG, Languages Team
SG, Languages Team (Secretariat)
Chair of meeting 1:
Tim Simons (SG)
1. Welcome and apologies
Apologies were received from Pam Semple, Scottish Government.
The Chair welcomed the attendees and explained that the chairing of the SIG would
be shared between The Scottish Government and ADES.
It was agreed that the Group would meet for two years in the first instance, three
times a year with meetings to be held in May, October and February. The Chair
explained the value of SIG being an open forum conducted under Chatham House
rules to aid honest, frank discussion. Papers of meetings will be unattributed and will
be placed on SG website:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/curriculum/ACE/LanguageLea
rning .
The Chair noted that the SIG has a broad spectrum of support and interest and that
all the main strategic interests were represented. It was important that the Group
should work in a spirit of partnership and that Unions and Parents were represented.
Action 1: SG secretariat to place papers from this and future meetings on the above
web area after approval.
2. Background to the creation of the SIG
The meeting heard that this policy will create a new model for language learning in
Scotland where all children will have the opportunity to learn two additional
languages which will help develop a positive disposition towards learning languages
and improve communication in other languages.
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The purpose of the SIG is to oversee and support delivery of the Language Working
Group (LWG) recommendations by planning the actions necessary to deliver the SG
manifesto commitment. The LWG reported in May 2012 and set out 35
recommendations to achieve this commitment; these were all accepted or partially
accepted by the Scottish Government in November 2012.
Thus the purpose of the SIG is to provide strategic level direction and leadership for
the Government’s languages aspiration to the education community in Scotland.
3. Proposed remit
Discussion focused on the remit and key challenges and issues. It was agreed that
the remit should be revised to clarify the priorities, to reflect how the group intends to
work and the importance of communicating the policy widely. It was also agreed that
the challenges and issues section should emphasis the challenge of communicating
the vision and maintaining the momentum around delivery.
Action 2: SG secretariat to reword the remit and circulate once changes have been
incorporated.
4. Timescales and milestones:
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Aims for 2020
Discussion on milestones towards 2020
Aims for period June 2013 – June 2014
The 1+2 languages policy is to be implemented by 2020. The aim of this policy is to
enable young people in Scotland to start to learn an additional language no later
than Primary 1 and following on from that a second additional language be taught no
later than Primary 5.
The group agreed that it would be important to establish milestones and targets on
the way to full implementation of the policy. However, it was felt that setting
percentage targets at this stage would be somewhat arbitrary as the full extent of
current provision is not yet known. This led to discussion of local authority audit
work.
LA audit work: The group discussed the need for local authorities to undertake
audits or evaluations of current languages provision. It was important for this
evaluation work to be based on detailed discussion and analysis, as it will form the
basis for languages strategies going forward. It will also form the starting point for
Local Authorities to understand and develop realistic targets on the way to full
implementation.
Although the LWG report recommended that all local authorities carry out an audit
and several have done so, there may be some who have not yet begun this work. It
was agreed that Directors of Education in all local authorities should be reminded of
the policy and of the expectations associated with it. This will ensure that the work is
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undertaken and thinking is underway towards the development of a languages
strategy for each local authority.
A letter to Directors would also provide an opportunity to draw attention to the
existing landscape of opportunities for teacher training and development, including
availability of support and advice.
Discussion also revolved around possible support models to help local authorities
collaborate in this policy area, perhaps using a hub model as is being used
successfully for literacy.
The issue of funding in this and future years was discussed and the question was
raised about how local authorities could make plans for future years when funding
was not yet confirmed by Parliament.
In discussion it was pointed out that this aim would help Scotland remain competitive
in a globalised world and that there was cross-party political support for the 1+2
policy and an expectation of delivery over two Parliaments. This should provide a
basis for Local Authorities to expect support to take the policy forward
notwithstanding the process of determining funding through spending reviews and
annual budgeting.
The group supported the idea of a national event to share thinking, experience, and
case studies. It could be an opportunity to discuss Local Authority evaluation work
and how work towards languages strategies is taking shape.
Action 3: SG secretariat to send a letter to all Directors of Education to highlight the
1+2 policy in general and the need for an audit in particular.
Action 4: SG would raise the 1+2 policy as a topic for discussion at the next ADES
forum before the end of this school year.
Action 5: SG secretariat to liaise with SCILT about organising a joint national
development conference in November/December 2013.
Action 6: SIG members to consider realistic and meaningful targets and milestones
to achieve between now and 2020, and gather evidence to that effect.
5. Current work
 LA audit work (see above)
 Pilot projects and emerging thinking
Pilots are running well and showing some interesting results. There is a need to
consider how to benefit from them and ensure learning is shared. There is some
particularly positive evidence of great teacher enthusiasm, motivation and skill.
SCILT is building up a database which includes the pilot projects and other case
studies and good practice.
It was agreed that there is no one way to achieve 1+2 and that there will be best
practice from the pilot projects, from local authorities which have already
implemented the policy and from other countries.
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Action 7: SG secretariat will develop a proposal around how to promote, encourage
and support collaboration between local authorities on languages through use of
hubs or other networks to share best practice.
Action 8: SG agreed that those pilot projects which had begun late could be
extended to run for a full school year.
Action 9: SCILT and Education Scotland agreed to prepare preliminary findings
from pilot projects to present at the national conference.
Action 10: Education Scotland will circulate documentation to clarify the key
recommendations for schools and Local Authorities by end of May 2013.
Action 11: Education Scotland and SCILT will ensure the Learning Guidelines will
be available for the second language in Primary 1 by December 2013 and that the
guidance for subsequent primary levels will follow.
 European and External Relations Committee inquiry
The group discussed the inquiry and how it has generated awareness of languages
policy and the issues and challenges associated with implementation. The inquiry
has focused on language learning in primary schools but is relevant to the policy as
a whole. The Committee intends to publish its report around the end of June, and
the Government will respond. This will be relevant to the work of the SIG.
6. Next steps
Action 12: SG secretariat to circulate a doodle poll to arrange the next two meetings
shortly.
7. AOB
 Communications strategy
It was agreed that there was a need for an engagement strategy to actively promote
positive messages around the 1+2 policy.
Action 13: SG secretariat to develop and report back, drawing in SIG members and
others as required.
Curriculum Unit
22 May 2013
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