Ronnie O’Connor, the current Director of Education, will lead a Commission that will improve the achievements and attainment of Glasgow’s children, and ensure that they are better trained and prepared to take up higher or further education, or enter the workplace. Mr O’Connor has been redesignated as Executive Director (Education, Training and Young People).
Bridget McConnell, the current Director of Cultural & Leisure Services, is to expand her role in acknowledgement that cultural and sporting activities can play a central part in social regeneration. She will deliver a new cultural and sports strategy to provide opportunities for Glaswegians to aim high and achieve their personal best, be it in the arts, voluntary work or in sports and fitness performance. Mrs McConnell has been redesignated as Executive Director (Culture & Sport).
These appointments come shortly after Ian Manson, the Depute Director of Development & Regeneration Services, was seconded to Councillor Purcell’s office as Chief Adviser.
Councillor Purcell said: "From the moment I took on the job as Leader, I have emphasised that social renewal and the opportunity for all Glasgow’s citizens to reap the benefits from the city’s continuing economic boom is at the top of my agenda and that of the Council. We can only achieve this if the best and right people are given the power and authority, as well as the time, to tackle complex issues and solve difficult problems.
"I have now made three key appointments in terms of senior staff in the Council being charged with specific tasks to improve the quality of life for everyone. In particular I want our schools to get better in every way, be it exam results, the encouragement of talent and skills or improved attendance.
"Today’s announcement, in particular my move to appoint a Commission, shows how serious I am in demanding action from my chief officials and everyone else in the Council.
"Ronnie and Bridget, like Ian before them, have a track record of delivering and are held in the highest regard by their peers in education, training, culture, the arts and sport, and I am delighted they have accepted the challenges I have laid down."
Mr O’Connor said that he intended to take the lessons from the Council’s past successes on ground-breaking initiatives to identify ways to improve educational and vocational attainment, and to provide better, more integrated services for Glasgow’s children.
He added: "This is about making a huge impact on the lives of Glasgow’s children – and while it is primarily about improving educational achievement and attainment and geared to making our school pupils more job-ready, I see my remit as being far wider.
"I need to identify the issues which affect and impact on achievement and attainment, be it poverty, poor health or difficult family circumstances. This is a task requiring the attention of all agencies dealing with children in Glasgow. My role is to provide a blueprint that will deliver Children’s Services in a better and more coherent way."
Mrs McConnell was equally determined to deliver on Councillor Purcell and the Council’s aspirations for social renewal. She said: "Glasgow has long reaped the economic benefits of culture and sport, from the Burrell Collection more than 20 years ago to what will happen when the revamped Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum opens its doors to the world next year, not forgetting our track record in hosting top-class sports events such as the Champions League Final.
"But culture and sport, in the widest sense, can impact on all aspects of social regeneration, be it health, education, community safety or employment prospects. Culture and sport quite clearly have enormous potential to deliver change in Glasgow. My job is to bring forward ways and means that will allow every individual, no matter their personal circumstances, to be part of the change and to benefit from the results."