Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 12 December 2023
12 Dec 2023 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Literacy and Numeracy
I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of her statement, and I welcome not just her acknowledgement of the poor legacy of her predecessors but her recognition of the need for action.
I also agree with the cabinet secretary’s recognition of the fact that teacher numbers are concerning, so I want to ask her the following question. Despite the Government’s overuse of temporary teacher contracts, the forcing of councils to rely on probationers and the failure to deal with rural and non-central-belt recruitment, the cabinet secretary has today reiterated her threat to withhold money from the 17 councils that have not increased teacher numbers. What is her thinking behind that threat, given that uncertainty over funding is not going to improve matters?
Secondly, there has been a 25 per cent increase in pupils with additional support needs since 2008, with 34 per cent of pupils in 2022 recorded as having such needs. However, there has also been a decline of 700 in support-for-learning teachers. What, precisely, is the cabinet secretary doing to increase ASN teacher numbers?
Finally, although there was a welcome rise in pupil support assistants between 2018 and 2022, that was done with additional Covid funding. What is the cabinet secretary going to do to address the consequences for PSA numbers of ending that funding?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a statement by Jenny Gilruth on literacy and numeracy. The cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of her statement, so...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (Jenny Gilruth)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to update Parliament on a range of evidence concerning the performance of Scottish education. Today sees the publication of the ach...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The cabinet secretary will now take questions on the issues raised in her statement. I intend to allow around 20 minutes for that, after which we will move o...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of her statement, and I welcome not just her acknowledgement of the poor legacy of her predecessors but her r...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I thank the member for his questions. He touched on a number of points, and I welcome the tone with which he responded to my statement. It is important that...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We must ensure that we get in as many members as possible. To that end, I will always appreciate succinct questions. I will also appreciate succinct answers,...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the cabinet secretary for the advance copy of her statement. I welcome the recognition of the gravity of the situation in schools and the need to dis...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I thank the member for the tone that she has adopted in relation to our working together on the issue. There is now a need for us to work across parties on s...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. We have had two questions and nearly seven and a half minutes have passed. Is there any possibility that we can expa...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I thank Mr Kerr for his contribution. I assure him that we have a bit of time in hand this afternoon and that I am conscious of that. I make a further plea ...
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
A University of Melbourne study, “The effect of classroom environment on literacy development”, found that noise levels are significantly higher in open-plan...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
The member raises an important point. The design of our classrooms and, in particular, our schools are matters for local authorities. I have never taught in ...
Roz McCall (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I note the cabinet secretary’s recognition that average is not good enough in maths and reading, and that the PISA data set should not be considered in isola...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
The member is right to mention TIMSS and PIRLS, which we will be rejoining. I asked officials whether we could expedite our rejoining of those surveys, but a...
Ruth Maguire (Cunninghame South) (SNP)
SNP
This year’s Bookbug and “Read Write Count with the First Minister” campaigns encourage a lifelong passion for learning from the crucial early years. How will...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I absolutely agree that parents and families play a crucial role in supporting our children’s speech and language development in the early years, and they co...
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The cabinet secretary will be aware that last week’s First Minister’s question time centred on the PISA results. The First Minister assured us that the Scott...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
The member will appreciate that, in my statement, I had 10 minutes to reflect on a range of data sets. I am more than happy to come back to the Parliament wi...
Michelle Thomson (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
Will the cabinet secretary advise what attention is being given to the qualitative commentary in the PISA report, which gives a much more nuanced understandi...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
The member makes an important point. The questionnaire evidence and the analysis across countries that the OECD conducts are important aspects to consider. T...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
We need to remember the context: back in 2016, we were promised significant improvements in the performance on education and the poverty-related attainment g...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I am not sure whether the member is aware that there was a global pandemic between 2016 and now. That has impacted on outcomes.Interruption. I am sorry, but ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Cabinet secretary, please resume your seat for a second. I ask members to listen to the person who has the floor. In the instant case, it is the cabinet sec...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
It was, of course, the OECD that called the data set its Covid edition. Setting that aside, in the context of Mr Rennie’s point, we need to be mindful that, ...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
A teacher said to me the other day that they wondered whether primary schools were trying to cover too many subjects. There certainly are more than when I wa...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
It is important that all children in primary school experience a broad and balanced education to help them to make sense of the world. That means experiencin...
Gillian Mackay (Central Scotland) (Green)
Green
Covid-19 undeniably exacerbated the challenges facing the Scottish education system and others across the world, but most of those challenges existed before ...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
The member raises an important issue. Reform of our national agencies is a vital part of our work in improving Scotland’s approach and our support for educat...
Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con)
Con
Evidence shows that there is a clear link between mobile phone use and poor behaviour in schools. New guidance on mobile phone use in schools has already bee...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
The member raised that issue at First Minister’s question time last week and in asking questions about a recent parliamentary statement. She knows my view on...