This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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McConnell moves to double number of new community schools in Scotland
25/06/2001
Education Minister Jack McConnell today called on Scotland's councils to work in partnership to double the number of new community schools across the country
Speaking at an education conference in Edinburgh, the Minister said:
"The New Community Schools model is at the centre of the Scottish Executive's strong commitment to an education system which enables each child to develop his or her full potential.
"The evidence is clear from the pilot projects already underway that schools and their agencies are seeing significant benefits from the new ways of working. These changes have put New Community Schools at the heart of the communities which they serve.
"They are proving that this approach can make significant improvements in attainment and we want to extend that improvement to all schools across Scotland.
"Today I can confirm that the Executive will support councils in rolling out the new community schools model. But I also want to see councils making a financial commitment to expand those projects too.
"I want to work with them to ensure that there are at least twice the number of community schools in Scotland by the year 2004. This is the minimum increase - it could be more and quicker depending on discussions with local authorities.
"New Community Schools are at the forefront of delivering our education agenda and the extension of their approach will spread the provision of integrated education, family support and health improvement services.
"These schools are a model which the Executive believes can work right across Scotland. We are committing ourselves to it as a centrepiece of our education strategy. The NCS is a model for the future. "
BACKGROUND
1. There are currently 62 pilot projects involving more than 400 schools across the country with Executive support of £37 million from the Excellence Fund. This fulfils the Executive's commitment in Programme for Government to put in place 60 New Community Schools by 2001. Every education authority has 2 projects (except Orkney and Shetland who sought only one)
2. The pilot programme commenced in April 1999 and the earliest projects are now in their final year of pilot funding
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3. The New Community School approach is based on the American model of the full service school. It aims to address the needs of the whole child and his or her family.
News Release: SE1528/2001
25 Jun 2001