This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Cash for schools that put customers first
27/06/2005
Schools across Scotland will recieve a £250 grant if they join a scheme to drive up standards of service given to pupils and parents.
Education Minister Peter Peacock urged schools to apply for the Charter Mark quality award to help them drive up standards and focus on the service offered.
He announced that schools which sign up will receive £250 to offset part of the cost of applying for the award.
Participating schools are assessed against a set standard - looking at factors such as systems for recording and analysing feedback and complaints, and the action taken to ensure improvement.
Mr Peacock said:
"I want all schools to deliver a first class service for pupils and parents and the Charter Mark award is designed to help all public sector organisations focus on delivering excellence.
"That is why I am offering all schools a £250 grant for applying for this recognised quality award.
"Charter Mark is not about winning a trophy, it is about commitment to ongoing improvement. I hope the schools will use it to drive a change of culture that will help them to become more efficient and responsive to the needs of pupils and parents."
The Charter Mark scheme is both a standard of customer service and a quality improvement tool to assist public sector organisations improve customer service.
"A Guide to Charter Mark for Scottish Schools and Pre-school centres" was published in 2004 by HMIE and North Lanarkshire Council. The guide shows how educational establishments can use the quality indicators in "How good is our School?" and "The Child at the Centre" to assess their work against the Charter Mark Standard.
Across Scotland, 11 primary schools, one special school and nine secondary schools have already achieved Charter Mark standard.