NORTH Ayrshire’s first Professional Learning Academy was officially opened this week by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills John Swinney.

The ground-breaking new facility has been established by the council to develop and enhance the skill-set of its teachers and practitioners.

Based at Auchenharvie Academy, some of the authority’s most highly-skilled teachers are now developing and delivering programmes to their peers which will enhance the learning and teaching in establishments across the region.

Councillor John Bell, cabinet member for education and youth employment, said: “There is an attainment gap in North Ayrshire and we are serious about closing the gap and making sure that there is no poverty of ambition for any young person in North Ayrshire.

“The PLA’s initial focus will be on delivering programmes for our teachers, based on research, that have been proved to work. We will be focusing on early literacy and numeracy skills initially but this will broaden out to other curricular areas and levels.

“We recognise that our staff are our most valuable asset and by investing in them we are investing in our young people.

“This facility, which is funded through the Attainment Challenge, is trying to change the way we teach our young people in North Ayrshire.

“The work the teachers are doing is inspiring and ground-breaking and I’m sure we will see the positive results of all their hard work over the coming years.”

“The work they do is based on best practice from research across the world.

“We’re delighted now to officially open this fantastic facility which we believe will make a huge difference to young people across North Ayrshire.”

Last year, North Ayrshire Council was one of seven local authorities chosen to benefit from the £100m Attainment Scotland fund.

The fund is designed to raise attainment and ensure that school pupils receive the best possible start in life, regardless of their background.

The Deputy First Minister met staff and sat in on some Inspirational Learning Sessions focusing on numeracy and learning, before unveiling the plaque.

Mr Swinney said: “The Professional Learning Academy (PLA) is a superb facility to develop the skills and talents of teachers in North Ayrshire. The Scottish Government has provided £1.4 million towards the development and running of the PLA through the Inspiring Learning Spaces and Attainment Scotland funds.

“This significant investment will help North Ayrshire Council achieve our shared aim of giving every child the best possible start in life to achieve their full potential, by interrupting the cycle of inter-generational poverty and tackling the deprivation-related attainment gap in our schools.”

The approach to training at the PLA is distinctive, with sessions organised weeks apart so that teachers can be ‘taught’ at the Academy and then apply their learning in class before returning to share their findings. Staff from the PLA will regularly be out in schools working and mentoring staff to ensure best practice is being adopted.

Programmes for primary school teachers are currently being rolled out but a career-long professional learning programme is also being finalised which will ensure there are opportunities for student teachers right through to established head teachers. The PLA will also work with support staff, parents and carers in the future.

Cllr Bell added: “We are hugely ambitious for our children and will continue to expand the programme, in the longer term, to support staff within schools and to other professionals.”