Chamber
Plenary, 12 Feb 2003
12 Feb 2003 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Education
No thank you.
We are particularly keen to reduce class sizes in maths and English as part of our overall strategy to improve literacy and numeracy. Mike Russell is correct that we must raise standards of literacy and numeracy. We must close the unacceptable opportunity gap for many of our children in Scotland. Doing that means taking action on all fronts.
Teachers are central to everything that we do throughout Scotland's schools. That is why we are reviewing initial teacher education, so that new teachers will have even better skills to improve standards of literacy and numeracy. We will give literacy and numeracy their place at the heart of a fully revised curriculum, emphasising their key importance. Above all, we will not tolerate underperformance in literacy and numeracy. We expect education authorities to play a key role in driving forward the issues to ensure the highest standards in their schools.
Raising standards means that we need good information on the outcomes of education for pupils. I agree that we cannot and should not reduce the outcomes of education to simple tables of exam results for each school, which is why the Executive rejects league tables in Scotland. The key reason for assessment in Scotland should be to support the learning of the individual child. That is why the Executive has put in place a framework based on the national priorities in education and the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Act 2000, which the SNP supported and which was approved by the Parliament.
We want good education authorities and good information for those authorities. We want good teachers with good information and we want pupils and parents to have access to excellent information to assist the education of each child. We want to take into account all the national priorities, not only exam results.
Later this year, we will publish the first baseline report on national priorities, which will draw together reports from all schools and education authorities and give a rounded picture of what we are achieving in education throughout Scotland. That is a huge step forward, but it is only a first step. We will do more to allow parents and pupils to achieve a clear and meaningful understanding of each child's development and the performance of their school. Exam results will be a part, but only a part, of the picture.
We are particularly keen to reduce class sizes in maths and English as part of our overall strategy to improve literacy and numeracy. Mike Russell is correct that we must raise standards of literacy and numeracy. We must close the unacceptable opportunity gap for many of our children in Scotland. Doing that means taking action on all fronts.
Teachers are central to everything that we do throughout Scotland's schools. That is why we are reviewing initial teacher education, so that new teachers will have even better skills to improve standards of literacy and numeracy. We will give literacy and numeracy their place at the heart of a fully revised curriculum, emphasising their key importance. Above all, we will not tolerate underperformance in literacy and numeracy. We expect education authorities to play a key role in driving forward the issues to ensure the highest standards in their schools.
Raising standards means that we need good information on the outcomes of education for pupils. I agree that we cannot and should not reduce the outcomes of education to simple tables of exam results for each school, which is why the Executive rejects league tables in Scotland. The key reason for assessment in Scotland should be to support the learning of the individual child. That is why the Executive has put in place a framework based on the national priorities in education and the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Act 2000, which the SNP supported and which was approved by the Parliament.
We want good education authorities and good information for those authorities. We want good teachers with good information and we want pupils and parents to have access to excellent information to assist the education of each child. We want to take into account all the national priorities, not only exam results.
Later this year, we will publish the first baseline report on national priorities, which will draw together reports from all schools and education authorities and give a rounded picture of what we are achieving in education throughout Scotland. That is a huge step forward, but it is only a first step. We will do more to allow parents and pupils to achieve a clear and meaningful understanding of each child's development and the performance of their school. Exam results will be a part, but only a part, of the picture.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
The first debate this morning is on motion S1M-3879, in the name of Michael Russell, on education. I invite all those who want to take part in the debate to ...
Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Two weeks ago in the chamber, the Minister for Education and Young People launched a glossy document called "Educating for Excellence: Choice and Opportunity...
Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab):
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Michael Russell:
SNP
No—I have only just started. I will give way shortly.On the key requirements, there is an obvious mismatch between what people want and the Executive's respo...
Dr Jackson:
Lab
Has the member visited Balfron High School? Many characteristics that he said were not appearing in new schools have appeared there.
Michael Russell:
SNP
I am sure that some buildings are better than others and that, if the member believes that Balfron High School is among the best of those buildings, she will...
Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
Will Michael Russell give way?
Michael Russell:
SNP
No thank you.It is impossible to have a modern and vibrant economy and a successful Scotland without an emphasis on core skills. We build on those core skill...
Mr Monteith:
Con
Michael Russell talks about core skills. Will he define what he means by telling the chamber what subjects will be dropped to establish core skills? Will mus...
Michael Russell:
SNP
That shows about as much understanding of the process of simplifying the five-to-14 curriculum as does Mr Monteith's amendment, which I find baffling.It is n...
Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab):
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Michael Russell:
SNP
No.People are being deceived in Scotland. It is time that we had honest politics that shows that it will deliver. The SNP is pledged to deliver real excellen...
The Deputy Minister for Education and Young People (Nicol Stephen):
LD
I welcome the opportunity for the Parliament to consider again the key issues that face education in Scotland. Cathy Jamieson presented the Executive respons...
Michael Russell:
SNP
The minister is aware of the proposals that I mentioned—my colleagues will talk about specific proposals. Could he tell me the time scale for the reductions ...
Nicol Stephen:
LD
Not yet, because we will establish that in consultation with parents, pupils and education authorities throughout Scotland. That is the right approach. It is...
Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
Will the minister give way?
Nicol Stephen:
LD
No thank you.We are particularly keen to reduce class sizes in maths and English as part of our overall strategy to improve literacy and numeracy. Mike Russe...
Dr Sylvia Jackson:
Lab
Given that it will be difficult to take the league tables out of the public domain, is the minister considering a value-added approach, whereby the improveme...
Nicol Stephen:
LD
The approach taken through the national priorities is intended to achieve exactly that—a far more rounded picture that takes into account not only exam resul...
Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
Unlike the SNP, I will not concentrate on the coalition Government's response to its great debate. Why should I? The document is worthy and full of good inte...
Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab):
Lab
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Is it in the interests of the Parliament to discuss someone who is a vegan and to make such appalling comments?
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I do not think that it is insulting to describe someone as a vegan if they are one.
Margaret Jamieson:
Lab
My point is about the relevancy of that issue to the debate.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
If I were to rule on relevancy, that would be a full-time job.
Mr Monteith:
Con
I assure members that I did not mean the word "vegan" as a term of abuse; I was simply drawing to members' attention the metaphor that the minister may be fo...
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP) rose—
SNP
Mr Monteith:
Con
I will take an intervention.
Michael Russell:
SNP
Mr Monteith anticipates my every move.There is no intention to abolish placing requests, which I support. In those circumstances, I find Mr Monteith's argume...
Mr Monteith:
Con
I will move on and give a few examples so that Michael Russell understands why his policy is a deceit. As I said, the policy is predicated on falling school ...
Stewart Stevenson:
SNP
Will the member give way?