Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 11 November 2010
11 Nov 2010 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Curriculum for Excellence
Order.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson)
NPA
Good morning. The first item of business is a debate on motion S3M-7379, in the name of Michael Russell, on curriculum for excellence. Before the debate begi...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Michael Russell)
SNP
I am delighted to have this opportunity to thank the teaching profession and all who work in or are part of school communities for what I have to call their ...
Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab)
Lab
I was just wondering whether the difficulties that Mr Russell inherited, and resolved so admirably, were his predecessor, Fiona Hyslop’s fault.
Michael Russell
SNP
No, they were not. They were caused by inaction by the previous Administration and Mr Macintosh’s colleagues. I did not want to be so churlish as to say that...
Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab)
Lab
If rhetoric could power Scotland, we could replace Torness by hitching Mr Russell to the national grid. Wind turbines suffer from intermittency, unlike the c...
Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD)
LD
On such a dismal and dreich day, I was almost looking forward to coming into the chamber; then I heard Des McNulty. I suspect that the truth about the curric...
Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Margaret Smith
LD
No.We accept that times are tight, but it is critical and fundamental that we get this right.The Scottish National Party is playing with a generation’s futur...
Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
On behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, I am happy to congratulate all the headteachers, teachers, support staff—who are often forgotten in this process—par...
Des McNulty
Lab
I am sure that the member saw the comments that exam chiefs made in the Daily Mail this morning about the desperate state of literacy skills in some of the m...
Elizabeth Smith
Con
Absolutely. It is an important message that underpins exactly what I am saying: literacy and numeracy must complement and underpin everything that we do with...
Michael Russell
SNP
Well, that is the end of Labour.
Elizabeth Smith
Con
Does Mr Russell want to intervene? No? The curriculum for excellence has been at the forefront of the education brief for many long months, but all too often...
Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to participate in the debate, not only as a parent but because, through my work with Learning and Teaching Scotland over many years, I have had ...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome this morning’s opportunity for the Parliament to endorse members’ commitment to the curriculum for excellence and to improving the educational oppo...
Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I have been amused by repeated comments in recent months and during this morning’s debate about curriculum for excellence being rushed in. I understand that ...
Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab)
Lab
Curriculum for excellence might well have been the most debated subject in the chamber during the past two or three years, but that is no bad thing. The educ...
The Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning (Keith Brown)
SNP
I am sorry that Karen Whitefield is showing the same horror as the rest of the Labour Party that curriculum for excellence is working in schools. Does she re...
Karen Whitefield
Lab
I am surprised that the minister thinks that important legislation that recognises and supports children with additional support needs should not be implemen...
Keith Brown
SNP
You were not aware? You did not know?
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan)
SNP
Order.
Karen Whitefield
Lab
I acknowledge the cabinet secretary’s decision to use HMIE in a constructive and proactive way in supporting the roll-out of curriculum for excellence in our...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We have some time in hand, so members could use seven minutes as a guideline from now on.10:24
Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green)
Green
I will attempt to finish my speech within seven minutes.It is sometimes difficult to tell whether Des McNulty’s glass is half full or half empty. This mornin...
Des McNulty
Lab
The issue, certainly in my contribution, is not whether the curriculum for excellence is a good thing in principle—I believe that it is—but the problems that...
Robin Harper
Green
I take Des McNulty’s point.Rousseau was probably one of the first people to consider how we should look at education from a child’s point of view.
Ian McKee
SNP
Jean-Jacques?
Robin Harper
Green
Yes, Jean-Jacques.I had the extreme good fortune and great honour to serve with R F Mackenzie in Braehead secondary school in Buckhaven in Fife, and I would ...
Michael Russell
SNP
I know of that coincidence of dates, but I can assure Robin Harper that I will open the conference, and I know that a colleague of mine will be present. We a...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The member should now wind up.