Meeting of the Parliament 02 February 2016
Some aspects of the legislation are okay as far as they go; with some, it is for the best that they do not go further; and with others, it is a pity that the legislation lacks ambition. The most important point, however, is that successful legislation is more than just a bill. Without better management and funding, whatever the legislation is supposed to achieve for Scottish education is likely to be overwhelmed by the devastation that is being wrought by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy’s attack on the local authorities that deliver education.
It may suit SNP members to pass the buck, as they often do, but it is wrong to blame councils when the SNP Government expects them to operate with two hands tied behind their backs—underfunded on the one hand, and hamstrung by undeliverable commitments on the other. That is why Labour sought a review of progress on the aims of the bill—specifically, a look at whether extra resources will be required—and it is deeply disappointing that the SNP did not support that.
Although league tables for schools do not accurately reflect their relative merits and can have undesirable consequences, the same is not true for international comparisons. If we are to collect data, it should be in a form that enables us to benchmark the performance of our education system as a whole against other countries’ systems.
On the Government’s performance in education, if the Government is confident of its ability to tackle the attainment gap, why is it reluctant to set a target of halving the gap? Reducing the attainment gap should mean ensuring that no one is left behind or underperforms because they are disadvantaged. That means extra help for disadvantaged groups, such as looked-after children. It is disappointing that Labour’s proposals were not taken on board.
The Government’s unwillingness to listen is a barrier to progress, as is shown by its reluctance to accept and address concerns from outside the chamber. I note in particular the briefing from several bodies, including the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which argued that, although it extends rights for 12 to 15-year-olds, the bill would also create barriers to the exercise of those rights. We heard from Liam McArthur about the difficulties that that would cause, and it is a pity that his amendments fell.
I will support the bill, but I have misgivings about its content and about the SNP’s commitment and ability to deliver better education, so my vote will not be a ringing endorsement.
17:38