Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 12 December 2023
12 Dec 2023 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Literacy and Numeracy
It was, of course, the OECD that called the data set its Covid edition. Setting that aside, in the context of Mr Rennie’s point, we need to be mindful that, this year, overall pass rates for national 5, highers and advanced highers have been above the pre-pandemic rates in 2019, and the poverty-related attainment gap has narrowed. The 2022-23 ACEL data, which was published today, confirms that the proportions of primary school children from the most deprived areas of Scotland who are achieving the expected curriculum for excellence levels in literacy and numeracy are at record highs. That is welcome news in the context of the pandemic, which disrupted our children’s education for the best part of two years.
The member asked a supplementary question in relation to the role of skills and knowledge in our curriculum. As I intimated in my update, we will consider that through the curriculum review, starting with mathematics education, recognising the challenge in relation to that.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a statement by Jenny Gilruth on literacy and numeracy. The cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of her statement, so...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (Jenny Gilruth)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to update Parliament on a range of evidence concerning the performance of Scottish education. Today sees the publication of the ach...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The cabinet secretary will now take questions on the issues raised in her statement. I intend to allow around 20 minutes for that, after which we will move o...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of her statement, and I welcome not just her acknowledgement of the poor legacy of her predecessors but her r...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I thank the member for his questions. He touched on a number of points, and I welcome the tone with which he responded to my statement. It is important that...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We must ensure that we get in as many members as possible. To that end, I will always appreciate succinct questions. I will also appreciate succinct answers,...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the cabinet secretary for the advance copy of her statement. I welcome the recognition of the gravity of the situation in schools and the need to dis...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I thank the member for the tone that she has adopted in relation to our working together on the issue. There is now a need for us to work across parties on s...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. We have had two questions and nearly seven and a half minutes have passed. Is there any possibility that we can expa...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
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Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
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Jenny Gilruth
SNP
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Roz McCall (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
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Jenny Gilruth
SNP
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SNP
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SNP
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Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
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Jenny Gilruth
SNP
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SNP
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SNP
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Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
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Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I am not sure whether the member is aware that there was a global pandemic between 2016 and now. That has impacted on outcomes.Interruption. I am sorry, but ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Cabinet secretary, please resume your seat for a second. I ask members to listen to the person who has the floor. In the instant case, it is the cabinet sec...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
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John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
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Jenny Gilruth
SNP
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Gillian Mackay (Central Scotland) (Green)
Green
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SNP
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Con
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Jenny Gilruth
SNP
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