Chamber
Plenary, 11 Jun 2009
11 Jun 2009 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
National Qualifications
I associate myself with many of Margaret Smith's questions to the cabinet secretary. Can we have a full-day debate on education? We need much longer than normal, so that—apart from anything else—members can absorb the new terminology.
I also suggest to the cabinet secretary that, when she is publicising all this to parents, teachers and folk like me who are too old to remember exactly what everything has been called, she uses flow charts and pathways through it using pupils—
I also suggest to the cabinet secretary that, when she is publicising all this to parents, teachers and folk like me who are too old to remember exactly what everything has been called, she uses flow charts and pathways through it using pupils—
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
The next item of business is a statement by Fiona Hyslop, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, on national qualifications. The cabinet ...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Fiona Hyslop):
SNP
National qualifications are one of three key strands of work in implementing the curriculum for excellence. The other areas are curriculum guidance, which ha...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
The cabinet secretary will now take questions on the issues raised in her statement. I intend to allow about 20 minutes for that.
Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab):
Lab
First, I am sure that the minister is aware—if she is not, she should be—that fewer than half of primary 7 pupils achieve the expected level D for reading. T...
Fiona Hyslop:
SNP
I would expect the future of national qualifications for this country to be treated with more respect and not to be used by any party as the subject of a par...
Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
Thank you for giving us early sight of your statement. You say that you have set out a clear policy, but I do not think that I am alone in being thoroughly c...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
I remind members to address their remarks through the chair.
Fiona Hyslop:
SNP
There were a number of questions there. It is clear that external assessment means external assessment by the SQA. That was clear from my statement.There wer...
Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD):
LD
Today's announcement is very important. The topic is wide ranging, therefore I would welcome a debate in Government time, because 20 minutes will not allow u...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
No, you really have to stop there.
Fiona Hyslop:
SNP
I will try to address those questions. We promised that we would set out the qualifications framework before the end of this school term, before the summer h...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
If even a proportion of the members who want to speak are to be able to do so, questions will need to be very brief.
Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
The importance of young people being able to sit standard grades at general and foundation levels or at general and credit levels in the current system was r...
Fiona Hyslop:
SNP
I return to a point that Margaret Smith made. A dialogue currently takes place between pupils, parents and schools about the different levels and courses tha...
Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab):
Lab
My first question is on the same subject. Am I right in thinking that national 4 and national 5 will be taught in common classes? If that is the case, what w...
Fiona Hyslop:
SNP
A lot of the operational issues around timetabling and common classes that Ken Macintosh is talking about will be addressed in the discussions with teachers ...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
There is genuine confusion about some of the details. We need to get more information from the cabinet secretary today, if possible, about what it all means....
Fiona Hyslop:
SNP
To help progression, there will be external verification by the SQA of the assessment procedures for the qualifications system, which will give the robustnes...
Hugh O’Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD):
LD
First, the cabinet secretary said that she wants to encourage uptake of the new qualifications by adult learners. How will she do that?Secondly, will the pro...
Fiona Hyslop:
SNP
I have only just announced the framework of the whole system, so I am afraid that I cannot give details of the marking guidelines yet. The member is right to...
Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP):
SNP
Members on all sides of the chamber and many people outside it have welcomed the new certificates in literacy and numeracy. Will the cabinet secretary explai...
Fiona Hyslop:
SNP
Maths and English will continue to be taught as separate subjects by specialist teachers. With regard to literacy skills, for example, the study of English w...
Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab):
Lab
I am grateful to the cabinet secretary for restating her commitment to improve attainment through early intervention. Which early interventions does she beli...
Fiona Hyslop:
SNP
Today's statement is about qualifications from S3 onwards, but the member's questions are about literacy in the early years.Our proposals include the early i...
Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
The cabinet secretary will remember the difficulties that the previous Administration ran into in making the transition from the higher to the higher still s...
Fiona Hyslop:
SNP
It is clear that the introduction of any new qualifications system, and the transition, must be carefully managed. The new and revised qualifications will be...
Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind):
Ind
I associate myself with many of Margaret Smith's questions to the cabinet secretary. Can we have a full-day debate on education? We need much longer than nor...
Members:
Mind maps!
Margo MacDonald:
Ind
I am being patronised, Presiding Officer.
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
I think that the question is getting a bit long. We are almost out of time.