Meeting of the Parliament 15 November 2017
I want to make early progress on the issue. The question is a practical one; it is about putting in place the mechanisms that will enable schools properly to record instances of bullying so that we can consider and assess exactly the points that Mr Greene makes about practice. The issues are practical, logistical ones that need to be confronted. We have taken the decision in principle: there will be a uniform recording system across the country. I am now simply turning that into practice, and I have to work with our local authorities and schools around the country to put it into practical effect. I will be very happy to report to Parliament about the progress that we make. However, that is the swiftest route to making sure that we have a uniform recording system in place. If I were to rely on statute, it would take significantly longer to do so, which is why I have opted for the earliest possible route to ensure that the recording of such instances can be considered and assessed.
I will do more justice to them in my concluding remarks, but I turn now to the questions that Mr Dornan raised about personal and social education. Following the Minister for Mental Health’s publication of the mental health strategy in March, I commissioned Education Scotland to undertake a national review of PSE in schools. There are three elements to that review. Phase 1, which is now complete, covered communications and initial exploration of PSE teaching resources. Phase 2, which began in October, covers the thematic review of the delivery of PSE in schools across Scotland. Phase 3, which will commence in June 2018, will analyse findings and develop recommendations.
It is important that the scope and remit of the review have been informed and shaped through consultation with our local authority partners and with educational practitioners who have expertise in PSE, pastoral support and counselling. Education Scotland has now started the first set of visits to schools and early learning and childcare centres. It will undertake approximately 55 visits as part of that process. I will, of course, update Parliament on the progress of the review and ensure that the measures are taken forward in a timely fashion to ensure that the objectives set out by Mr Dornan are fully addressed as part of the review of PSE.
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