Meeting of the Parliament 28 May 2025
Our job is to work together on solutions. The cabinet secretary has been open about how she is willing to work with members and others to see how we can go forward.
Much of what has been said ignores lots of good work that the Scottish Government has done, which has involved real investment. As the cabinet secretary mentioned, the number of teachers in permanent posts has remained stable at more than 80 per cent for the past 10 years, and the number of school teachers in post in Scotland has increased by 6 per cent since 2014. Those are good things.
I have seen how the attainment challenge and pupil equity funding have delivered for schools in Renfrewshire. That has involved hiring additional staff and has delivered real improvement in outcomes for kids in our most deprived areas. That is a step in the right direction.
Let us be honest. There is work to do, but we have to acknowledge that there has been much that is good. As I have said, more than 80 per cent of teachers are in permanent posts, and we have the lowest pupil teacher ratio in the UK.
The Scottish Government’s amendment is about partnership, evidence and ambition. It is about building a future in which every child in Scotland, whether they are in Paisley, Perth or Portree, has access to brilliant teaching and the opportunity to thrive and be all that they can be in life.