Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 28 February 2024
28 Feb 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Qualifications and Assessment
I acknowledge that. However, the very good youth work services in my patch, which are award winning and for which I have huge admiration, do not have the resources to deliver that kind of support.
I also question whether such support would be a substitute for the teaching and academic support that those young people deserve; they would flourish if those things were there, too. I am concerned that, in some schools, in some parts of the country and in some quarters of our society, we say that it is okay for some people to opt out of qualifications and formal academic learning, despite the fact that they have the ability and the desire to achieve qualifications. We say, “These other things are the things for you. Don’t worry that you don’t have the qualifications that you need to follow your dreams—we’ve found some other things that can work as part of your qualification to make up for it.” We have to be very careful that we get the balance right and that we do not allow reform to be a chance to write people off.
16:58In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-12304, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, on the recommendations of the independent review of qualifications a...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (Jenny Gilruth)
SNP
I am pleased to open this important debate on the recommendations of the independent review of qualifications and assessment. On Monday, I met teaching profe...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Does the cabinet secretary recognise that all the factors that she has set out are reasons for introducing reform rather than delaying it?
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
The context that the member has addressed is important. However, as she knows, I built in an additional year, which has been important in allowing us to bett...
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The cabinet secretary postulates a fascinating idea. With regard to the maths specialist, we are looking at implementation not in this academic year and, pos...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
There are two elements to that, the first of which is curriculum improvement. The curriculum improvement that I announced in December will have a maths speci...
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
When will the new qualifications body be up and running? Which cohort of pupils will take the exams that it will set?
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I gave some of that information when I responded to the previous intervention from Pam Duncan-Glancy’s colleague. I will legislate for the creation of the ne...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I welcome this debate on what has become known colloquially as the Hayward review. Arguably—I think that Ross Greer will pick up on this point later—we sho...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
I agree that simply putting the project learning on to an already unequal system will increase that inequality. I am interested in Mr Kerr’s perspective on t...
Liam Kerr
Con
That is an interesting point. The key to that goes back to what I was talking about earlier: we really need to interrogate what is going on here. We need to ...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I start by thanking Professor Louise Hayward and her team, and all the teachers, pupils, support staff and parents, for the work that they did on the report....
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
Earlier, I made the point that we currently have quite a cluttered approach to qualifications in the school sector. Should some of the subjects to which the ...
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
Those opportunities need to be available to children and young people, wherever they are. Some children and young people will flourish in those subjects in s...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
I welcome the constructive and open discussion that we had last week with the cabinet secretary. I thought that that was quite a helpful session; she was muc...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
As we move to the open debate, I remind all members who wish to speak to check that they have pressed their request-to-speak button. I advise members that ba...
Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
SNP
The SNP Government has an excellent track record of investing in Scottish education. We have significantly more teachers per pupil than Tory-led England or L...
Willie Rennie
LD
Will the member take an intervention?
Fulton MacGregor
SNP
No—I do not have enough time. Sorry. That has gone some way to reducing the poverty-related attainment gap, which is a massive issue in my constituency. At ...
Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con)
Con
We cannot afford to think that curriculum for excellence, which was introduced in 2010-11, will still be fit for purpose by the end of this century. Indeed, ...
Ivan McKee (Glasgow Provan) (SNP)
SNP
The debate is hugely important and it is critical to get it right, not just for our young people and learners more widely but for the wider economy and socie...
Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
First, I welcome the fact that the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills has consulted those in the school and college teaching professions. That was th...
Bill Kidd (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the publication of “It’s Our Future”, the final report of the independent review of qualifications and assessment. I agree “that it is crucial tha...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
I have a lot to cram into four minutes, but the cabinet secretary need not worry—I can write to her at length about this if required. I agree with Liam Kerr ...
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
Please conclude, Mr Greer.
Ross Greer
Green
We cannot do that again. We need to be brave and seize the opportunity to create a system that will serve young people in our society for decades. 16:49
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP)
SNP
I will use my time today to emphasise some of what Professor Hayward has said. First, I draw Parliament’s attention to the evidence that we received from her...
Oliver Mundell (Dumfriesshire) (Con)
Con
I have enjoyed listening to today’s debate, but a little bit of balance always has to be inserted into our debates. Interruption. The cabinet secretary groan...
Martin Whitfield
Lab
Does Oliver Mundell agree that youth work could feed in exceptionally well to those groups of people and provide support that they might not otherwise get?
Oliver Mundell
Con
I acknowledge that. However, the very good youth work services in my patch, which are award winning and for which I have huge admiration, do not have the res...