Cathy and I visited East Ayrshire Council and met with Graham Short (Executive Director of Education and Social Services) and Susan Taylor (Head of Children and Family Services). I informed them of theblether results and the work programme. Susan talked about the work of the Violence Reduction Unit that they were involved with; it will be a point of follow-up on the domestic abuse agenda. In the discussion of legislation there was agreement that there may be issues around funding and there was no appetite for structural changes.
Cathy and I visited St Joseph’s High School and engaged in discussion with 30 pupils who had prepared a presentation on a pupil’s view of the school activities – interesting perspectives on higher education fees and the relative importance of young children: ‘they just need some colouring-in books and pens’.
Cathy and I visited the adjacent St Andrews Primary (shared campus), to be piped into and around the school and up the aisle of the packed assembly hall – quite the grandest entrance made so far.
I spoke to at least 200 pupils, informing them of my role, and then went on to host a Q&A with another 30 pupils, including some from the nursery school.