Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 09 March 2011
09 Mar 2011 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
“Teaching Scotland’s Future”
There is growing evidence of local authorities cutting school support staff; indeed, in my region of Fife, assistants are being taken out of the classroom to carry out other duties. In the light of those challenges, will the national partnership group consider the crucial role of classroom support staff who work with teachers to deliver for every child?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan)
SNP
The next item of business is a statement by Angela Constance on the Scottish Government’s response to “Teaching Scotland’s Future”. The minister will take qu...
The Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning (Angela Constance)
SNP
There are three pillars to our approach to improving education in Scotland. The first is curriculum for excellence, which has now been successfully implement...
Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the Scottish Government for providing an advance copy of the minister’s statement although, in truth, there is so little substance in it that Michael...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Order. Mr McNulty, we have had enough, I think. Your questions will have to stand.
Angela Constance
SNP
I regret the fact that there was so little substance in Mr McNulty’s question. Given the political consensus that existed in welcoming Mr Donaldson’s recomme...
Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
The minister said that universities are autonomous institutions with the right to select their own students but that they must also accept that there is a le...
Angela Constance
SNP
I draw the member’s attention to my statement’s emphasis on partnership working. Universities are indeed autonomous institutions, but it is in the interests ...
Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD)
LD
I thank the minister for her statement and I thank Graham Donaldson and his team for what is a comprehensive piece of work that will help the next Scottish G...
Angela Constance
SNP
Margaret Smith is right to highlight the fact that teachers are our primary resource, and she is also correct to highlight the importance of continuous profe...
Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
The minister will be aware of Graham Donaldson’s recommendations—in particular recommendations 4 and 5—on the initial selection of students who are recruited...
Angela Constance
SNP
Maureen Watt is right to raise the question of the initial selection, and she reflects in detail on an earlier answer that I gave. Yes: on the one hand, we w...
Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab)
Lab
What steps will be taken to ensure that new entrants to the profession have high-level literacy and numeracy skills, and that those skills are regularly refr...
Angela Constance
SNP
As Donaldson rightly acknowledged, Scotland’s teachers already have very high levels of literacy and numeracy; we have a good, competent workforce. At the he...
Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
One phrase that particularly struck me in Professor Donaldson’s description of the qualities and skills of a 21st century teacher is that they should have th...
Angela Constance
SNP
Ms McKelvie is right to highlight that the thrust of all that we do is indeed to get it right for every child, and getting it right for every child is not ju...
Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab)
Lab
I understand and agree with Donaldson’s thoughts on continuing professional development. We all want our teachers to be actively involved in such a process. ...
Angela Constance
SNP
The issue was highlighted in the statement and is a theme throughout the Donaldson review. I think there is consensus that we need to replace the traditional...
Hugh O’Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD)
LD
Would the minister be good enough to clarify a couple of things for me? Like my colleague Margaret Smith, I am supportive of the national partnership group. ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Come on. This is not a speech, please.
Hugh O’Donnell
LD
Is the minister able to clarify the measures that are, or are likely to be, in place to tackle some of those issues?
Angela Constance
SNP
As I said earlier, the national partnership group will include front-line teachers and leaders. Given the teaching profession’s emphasis on working in partne...
Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the minister’s comments about the many qualities that are needed in teaching and the recognition that it is a vocation that can inspire staff and p...
Angela Constance
SNP
The broader message is that we have great teachers, that we are building on success and looking forward to the future, and that teachers need to be well roun...
Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, welcome the minister’s comment about reinvigorating the concept of teacher professionalism. What resources is she allocating to implement the Donalds...
Angela Constance
SNP
As Mr Macintosh will be aware, CPD largely—though not exclusively—falls within local government’s remit. However, there is a national responsibility to ensur...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I ask that the final two questions—and the answers—be brief.
Christopher Harvie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP)
SNP
Since the European Commission found that 11 per cent of European small to medium-sized enterprises lose contracts because of the lack of language skills, at ...
Angela Constance
SNP
Mr Harvie raises an interesting point. The work on progressing Donaldson recognises the importance at times of having national action plans—indeed, we have o...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
There is growing evidence of local authorities cutting school support staff; indeed, in my region of Fife, assistants are being taken out of the classroom to...
Angela Constance
SNP
I am sure that in the discussions within or outwith the national partnership group on crucial education and teaching matters we will not consider solely teac...