Meeting of the Parliament 19 November 2025
I welcome the MSPs and parties who have come forward with solutions during the debate. We have just been hearing from Liz Smith, a fellow former teacher, about the importance of the three Rs. She also talked about the role of local authorities, which we have heard about from others today, in perhaps dictating the content of in-service days, and about the importance of listening to the profession in that regard. Her final points about our curriculum and how we might better meet the needs of all learners, particularly outwith the formal curriculum, are really important.
One of the aspects that Miles Briggs, Willie Rennie, Martin Whitfield, Ross Greer and I were discussing on Friday at the School Leaders Scotland conference at Loch Lomond was school funding post-pandemic. Pam Duncan-Glancy was not able to be there, but she has talked about making PEF permanent. I put on the record that I have made clear the commitment that, if my party is re-elected next year, we will continue that funding. I know that Scottish Labour has a similar position on that issue.
There is a big-picture question about school funding that we have not really interrogated today. My question for Labour members and for the rest of Parliament is about whether it is enough. I do not think that it is anymore. Our schools are now meeting the needs of a variety of different parts of society, whether that be health needs or income maximisation for parents and carers. We need to look at the totality of funding that goes to schools. I heard Mr Rennie’s points, a number of which, I have to say, I do not agree with, but I think that John Wilson’s appointment is an opportunity to look again at radical approaches to school funding. Our schools are now meeting needs that go beyond our educational requirements, and we need to reconfigure budgets to recognise that.