Meeting of the Parliament 09 February 2012
The idea that a unanimous report from a group as distinguished as the McCormac review group was designed to destabilise and demoralise Scottish education is so ridiculous that it devalues most of the rest of Mr Henry’s contribution. However, let me be positive about what we have announced today.
The move from the chartered teacher scheme to a masters profession fits well with the McCormac report, the Donaldson recommendations and education worldwide. If Mr Henry thinks back to when he was briefly in my job, he will realise that, worldwide, the desire to ensure a masters profession is something that has driven continuous improvement in teaching. The existing chartered teachers and those who are working towards that position are being given an opportunity to enter a masters profession as pathfinders. I think that many will welcome that and that it will, in time, be seen to drive the whole profession forward.
I am happy to give a commitment to the probationary teacher scheme. The fact that I did not mention changes to the scheme means that there will not be significant changes to it. Of course, from time to time there are always changes to any scheme as education moves forward and develops, but the probationary teacher scheme, which is a very important part of our teaching profession—indeed, it is world renowned—will remain in place.
I have been very clear since McCormac reported that we should try to discuss this in a calm and constructive way with all stakeholders. It was important that we did that, and that is why it has taken me several months to get to the stage of bringing my statement to the chamber. I repeat the closing words of that statement and commend them to Mr Henry, even having heard his contribution:
“I invite all parties to play their part in this agenda for positive change.”
If there are positive suggestions about how we could improve our approach, I am happy to listen to them; if, however, suggestions are merely reactionary and backward looking, I am afraid that they will do nothing to help Scotland’s education and Scotland’s young people.