Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 May 2017
17 May 2017 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Teacher Training Programme
The answer to that point is that there must be in place an efficient system for ensuring the timely delivery of placements for young people who are going through teacher training. The General Teaching Council for Scotland holds the student placement system, and the Government has requested that the GTCS, the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland—directors of education are crucial in the interaction with local authorities—and the universities jointly review the system and take action to improve the process at national level.
When it gets to the point at which I must intervene in the GTCS to ensure that young people can get placements, that is unacceptable. There is an obligation on the profession to recognise the educational opportunities not just for trainee teachers but for the profession to learn in an interactive way when schools around the country receive and welcome new trainee teachers, to ensure that the interests of young people can properly be taken into account.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani)
SNP
As I said earlier, we have cut into the time for the next debate, so I ask for a quick turnaround, please. The next item of business is a debate on motion S...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of members’ interests, which intimates that I am a member of the General Teaching Council for Scotland....
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (John Swinney)
SNP
There are a number of important issues in the debate, and I welcome the opportunity to discuss them in Parliament. I confirm that my amendment is complementa...
Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
On that principle, a factor that was mentioned in the Education and Skills Committee today is placements in schools. The representative from Moray House told...
John Swinney
SNP
The answer to that point is that there must be in place an efficient system for ensuring the timely delivery of placements for young people who are going thr...
Johann Lamont (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
The Deputy First Minister is aware that the committee heard that the experience of trainee teachers was that they were welcomed by staff who wanted to suppor...
John Swinney
SNP
As Johann Lamont knows, I have been tackling workload in schools. I was discussing the issue this morning, at Kirkton primary school in Carluke, where I spok...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
Talented, inspirational teachers can transform a student’s experience of school and their ability to learn and achieve. I am sure that we will hear many such...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
Does Daniel Johnson accept that in all subjects—including mine, accountancy—the teaching at university tends to be a little on the theoretical side, and that...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
The trainees’ evidence was that the emphasis on the theory was too heavy, and that it was not until they were in the classroom that they learned anything of ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to open speeches. Speakers will be cut out unless everyone is very disciplined. I ask speakers to go for three and a half minutes, please. 16:14
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I declare an interest in that I am married to a primary school teacher and have two children at primary school. The issue of the standards of teaching in our...
Jenny Gilruth (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP)
SNP
I remind members that I am the parliamentary liaison officer for the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. My youthful appea...
The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh)
NPA
Thank you very much for your time-keeping. Next is Johann Lamont, to be followed by Fulton MacGregor. 16:22
Johann Lamont (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
In response to Jenny Gilruth’s comments, I am sure that all members will be shocked to realise that my youthful appearance belies the fact that I started tea...
Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
SNP
I congratulate Liz Smith on her motion, which seems to have brought a degree of consensus to the chamber. As others have done in their opening remarks, I tha...
Johann Lamont
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Fulton MacGregor
SNP
I do not have time, Johann. Sorry. No one would disagree that, to ensure quality teachers, education programmes need to be of the highest quality in all the...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
Over the past few months, the Education and Skills Committee has held meetings on teacher training and on wider related issues—namely, additional support nee...
Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
The essence of the evidence that has been given to the Education and Skills Committee in the past two weeks on teacher education—we were reminded today to ca...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I declare an interest in that my wife is an additional support needs teacher. Like Ross Greer, I feel that one of the most concerning issues that has been ra...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
I am not on the Education and Skills Committee, but I am happy to take part in today’s debate, because I hold education as a whole, and our education system,...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I join Johann Lamont in welcoming the tone of the debate, which has perhaps been more measured than some of our other education debates—it has certainly been...
The Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science (Shirley-Anne Somerville)
SNP
Teachers play a critical role in our society and it is vital that they receive training that allows them to enter the classroom with confidence. That is espe...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Minister, please begin to wind up. You are supposed to have five minutes.
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
Among those members were Ross Greer and Liam Kerr. Initial support is being taken seriously as part of our work to continue to review professional standards....
Ross Thomson (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Everyone in the teaching profession should be in no doubt as to the value that we attach to it—not simply for young people but for the country as a whole. It...