Meeting of the Parliament 27 January 2016
Two weeks ago in Parliament, the cabinet secretary set out the Government’s determination to focus on the twin aims of excellence and equity in our education system to deliver a world-class system that has at its heart the tenet that all Scotland’s children must be able to achieve their educational potential and which, in the process, breaks the link between poorer attainment and poverty. We have a duty to take bold action to ensure achievement of those twin aims.
The recent OECD report confirmed that we are, with curriculum for excellence, on the right track and that our system has many strengths, including our holistic approach, the four capacities, professional engagement and a high degree of consensus on and enthusiasm for learning and teaching. I see that in action week in and week out when I visit schools.
We already know that our system is a good one and that it is delivering higher standards of achievement for most children. Last year, there was a record number of passes at higher and advanced higher grades and more young people received qualifications relating to wider skills for life and work. More students are staying on at school until sixth year, fewer are leaving with very low qualifications or no qualifications at all, and all young people can now undertake relevant work-related learning as part of their curriculum. More than nine out of 10 of last year’s school leavers were in employment, education or training nine months later.
Therefore, we are in a good place, but I accept that we cannot be complacent. We know that some children from our most deprived communities do not do as well as they should. In an excellent and equitable educational system, we cannot allow that to continue. That is why we already have a relentless focus on improving the outcomes of those children, which is supported by the additional four-year £100 million attainment Scotland fund.