1. SCOTXED FORUM STAFF AND PUPIL CENSUSES John Gunstone Pete Whitehouse

2. What have we achieved ? Pupil Census September 2008 published in February 2009 September 2009 published in November 2009 Staff Census September 2008 published in April 2009 September 2009 published in November 2009

3. Why did we do this? User needs - Local Authorities, CoSLA, Scottish Government How did we agree the timetable? Discussions with Directors at Dunkeld – April 2009 and October 2009 Changes to dates published on ScotXed website on 01/05/2009. Spring Forum factfile – issued in May 2009 ScotXed wrote to LA contacts on 11/06/2009.

4. How did it go? - We got there! Return Deadline : 75 % (Pupil); 37 % (Staff) + 1 week : 81 % (Pupils); 69 % (Staff) + 3 weeks : 100 % (Pupils); 100 % (Pupils) Publication date of 17 th November cancelled Lack of data in a small number of LAs Quality Assurance process behind schedule New Publication date of 27 th November set.

5. How did we do it? –Lots of hard work by you, your colleagues and MIS suppliers –Lots of hard work by colleagues in Scottish Government –Lots of communication between and within our organisations –Some irritation and annoyance!

6. What does the future hold ? Pupil and Staff Censuses publication in November ie Census day in September The assumption that data go through high quality assurance processes Continuing to bring in Directors and other Senior Management to help prioritise and support work Strong political (local and national) interest in these data

7. How will we achieve this? Prioritisation within Local and Central Government Early discussions about problems and issues Recognition of deadlines Clear explanation and understanding of changes to data Shared commitment to delivery Positive, polite and perseverance