Hansard

The positive destinations analysis has been a reasonably long-term assessment of trends that has spanned many years. In the labour market strategy, we are concentrating on the issues that Johann Lamont appropriately raises to improve the quality of employment that is available in our society.

The progress in education that I have talked about is not an accident. At the heart of much of that progress are contributions from a range of organisations, including strong contributions from Education Scotland and the Scottish Qualifications Authority. As the OECD said in its review of the implementation of curriculum for excellence,

“Education Scotland has been a linchpin in providing the guidance resources and quality assurance”

that have been necessary for that change. Education Scotland has also been instrumental in taking forward my recent priorities of decluttering the curriculum and reducing teacher workload to ensure that our teachers are free to focus on providing valuable experiences for young people.

The arguments for establishing Education Scotland’s dual functions—of inspection and of curriculum and pedagogical advice—were designed to ensure that the findings of inspection directly influence improvement in curriculum development and vice versa. That rationale is important to consider today.

Education Scotland also has a role in providing effective challenge to and scrutiny of the Government. Its publication earlier this week, which Tavish Scott quoted extensively, is clear in highlighting strengths but also areas for improvement in Scottish education. As members will be aware, Dr Bill Maxwell, HM chief inspector of education in Scotland, has announced his forthcoming retirement, and I record my thanks for the significant contribution that he has made to the leadership and improvement of education in Scotland.

As a national education body, the SQA is properly within the scope of the governance review, as is Education Scotland. I put that point on the record to contradict what Tavish Scott said. Education Scotland and the SQA are both within the scope of the governance review that the Scottish Government is undertaking. Having said that, I have always made it clear that a national examinations body will be needed.

The SQA has played a key role in the implementation of curriculum for excellence. It focuses on ensuring that our young people can rely on the agency to give authoritative and accredited qualifications, which are essential for assessing the performance of young people.

I acknowledge that the performance of all agencies must be effective. I recognise that the SQA has made errors in the past, and I have made it clear to the SQA chief executive that there is no room for error. The SQA accepts that and is addressing that.

Although we must promote the whole record and the positives of organisations, as I reiterated in my comments a moment ago, the Government is undertaking a governance review that takes into its scope the SQA and Education Scotland. That is why the Government amendment proposes that we seriously consider the issues that the Lib Dems are raising in today’s debate. The governance review is looking at the role of all the constituent parts of our education system in delivering excellence and equity in education. It is focused on promoting and developing the crucial culture of collaboration across the education system that will help to drive innovation in Scottish education.

I do not want to pre-empt that consideration today. However, I assure Parliament that the governance review will focus on ensuring that the Scottish Government and other national bodies provide the right support to deliver the empowered and flexible education system that we want. It will support the empowerment of schools and assist in building their capacity to drive improvement and raise the attainment and achievement of children and young people.

Our reforms will be based on the best evidence of what will work and what will empower schools. There will not be a top-down, prescriptive approach. Our reforms will put children and young people at the heart of Scottish education. We will bring forward changes that are focused on processes, not structures, and which are flexible and able to adapt to change. We will build capacity, encourage open dialogue and stakeholder involvement, take a whole-system approach and harness evidence and research to inform policy.

The Government is committed to taking forward a reform agenda that ensures that young people are well supported in their education in every locality of the country. That involves looking at the roles of our education bodies, which is why the Government amendment is set out in the way that it is. The approach must take into account the actions and involvement of all aspects of the education system, so that young people in Scotland have a guarantee that they are operating in a world-class education system.

I move amendment S5M-04920.1, to insert after “calls for”:

“serious consideration to be given to”.