Committee
Education and Skills Committee 24 March 2021
24 Mar 2021 · S5 · Education and Skills Committee
Item of business
Coronavirus and Education
I am now looking at a folder, but a number is not leaping out at me yet. I will write to the committee about the numbers. As I said in my opening remarks, in the week ending 7 March, 56,000 staff and 12,000 pupils took tests. Therefore, the level of staff participation is extraordinary and really welcome, and the pupil numbers are very encouraging. Obviously, we will have more of that in the weeks to come as more pupils are back in school. From all the accounts that I hear, the logistical arrangements for distributing all the testing kits to 2,500 schools around the country have been, with the exception of snowfall, pretty straightforward. 10:45
In the same item of business
The Convener
SNP
Agenda item 4 is an evidence session on coronavirus and education. We have a strict time limit for this item. I remind members that we want to be clear of it...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (John Swinney)
SNP
Good morning, and thank you for the opportunity to take part in the committee’s proceedings this morning. As the convener indicated, I will be doing so for t...
The Convener
SNP
Thank you, Mr Swinney. We move to questions from the committee. I remind members that, if they wish to ask a question, they should type R in the chat function.
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Good morning. I apologise in advance for not staying to the end of the committee session. I open with the back-to-school plans. Specifically, does the Gover...
John Swinney
SNP
The fundamental point that I think that Jamie Greene is looking for me to confirm is that a return to full-time face-to-face schooling in the secondary secto...
Jamie Greene
Con
I understand that. It sounded as though there was a yes in there. Before I ask my other question, I will push you on something that you said towards the tail...
John Swinney
SNP
Certainly in relation to the primary sector, I am proceeding on the assumption—although I am not sure that “assumption” is the right word—or on the foundatio...
Jamie Greene
Con
I understand. I am sorry to push the issue—this was not my intended line of questioning, but your answer has expanded on it—but you said that you will wait a...
John Swinney
SNP
The sub-group from which I take a great deal of advice on those questions will meet again on 6 April, so I do not want Mr Greene to leave the conversation th...
Jamie Greene
Con
Thank you for that—that is very helpful. If it is okay, convener, I will ask one substantial question and then leave others to pick up the questioning.
The Convener
SNP
I have a number of members who want to come in. If there is time at the end, I will bring you back in, but I will move on, if you do not mind. I call Daniel ...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
In a sense, my questions follow on from those from Jamie Greene, who asked about the coming academic term. I am interested in the medium to longer term. For...
John Swinney
SNP
In answering Mr Johnson’s question, I go back to the position that prevailed last August. Between last August and December, by and large, we managed to susta...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
Thank you. That gives us a sense of the broad outlook, which would need to be underpinned by guidance and, I presume, a broader set of strategies for dealing...
John Swinney
SNP
I am glad that Mr Johnson has raised the issue, and I am glad that he used the term “catch-up”, because it allows me to air the issue. We have to open up and...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
I have one final question.
The Convener
SNP
Is the question in the same area, Mr Johnson?
Daniel Johnson
Lab
It is about the consequences for the coming academic year.
The Convener
SNP
If it is in the same area, please go ahead, but be brief. If it is not, I will bring you in at the end, once other members have had a chance to come in.
Daniel Johnson
Lab
Critically, there needs to be guidance for the coming academic year that takes account of the risk of new variants that could supersede or overcome protectio...
John Swinney
SNP
Health colleagues and the Government more widely are monitoring closely all the information about possible new variants, which is very material to the contro...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
I will follow up on the line of questioning about what the near future will look like—the term from August onwards. Outwith a very small number of children a...
John Swinney
SNP
That is my expectation, yes. Mr Greer has pursued that issue vigorously. The asymptomatic testing programme has been a welcome development and there has been...
Ross Greer
Green
That is excellent to hear. I thank the Government for introducing the programme. This is not my main line of questioning, but are the numbers on participatio...
John Swinney
SNP
I am now looking at a folder, but a number is not leaping out at me yet. I will write to the committee about the numbers. As I said in my opening remarks, in...
Ross Greer
Green
Excellent. Thanks very much. I—
The Convener
SNP
Mr Greer, in fairness to other members, if possible, can you ask a line of questions as one question? If we do not cover everything, I will bring you in agai...
Ross Greer
Green
I entirely appreciate that, convener. I will ask one slightly elongated question. The committee recently heard from the Children and Young People’s Commissi...
John Swinney
SNP
There are two dimensions to that question. The first is about the SQA’s engagement with young people in the determination of the policy and practical approac...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I align myself with the cabinet secretary’s comments in his opening remarks in thanking pupils, parents and teaching and support staff for all that they have...