Chamber
Plenary, 15 Feb 2007
15 Feb 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Education
It is a pleasure to open for the Labour Party. In many respects, today is a remarkable day. It is remarkable for me because this is my first speech as a back bencher after almost eight years in Parliament. It is also remarkable in that Brian Monteith has brought together the words "education" and "consensus", which I do not think has ever happened before—he is usually an extraordinarily contentious man when it comes to education. I suspect that the subject of the debate has been chosen principally because it is the only thing on which the other independent members can agree with Mr Monteith.
That said, the motion gives us the opportunity to examine the inspection system. There is no doubt that people in many countries of the world look with great envy on Scotland's inspection system and its history. Our inspectorate has high-quality staff who have great experience and who possess insights into school education that bring enormous benefits to our system as a whole. It is no accident that countries throughout the world look to Scotland to learn about our education system and about our inspection system, in particular. Many countries are adopting our system wholesale.
As Brian Monteith said, we often think that inspection is principally about inspection of institutions, but the inspectors also conduct themed inspections of subjects such as maths or modern studies, which offer insights into the system as a whole and act as a best-practice exchange—an important part of their role, which I would like to be developed further. From time to time, the inspectors produce a state of the nation report—Robert Brown mentioned "Improving Scottish Education". In addition, they can give ministers access to insights into the system that help to inform policy decisions.
As Fiona Hyslop and others have said, individual inspections are regarded as being extremely tough and rigorous and many schools face the prospect with a high degree of trepidation, but in my experience of going round the system over recent years and further back in time, despite that initial trepidation, the experience is almost invariably good. Education is about learning and because teachers understand learning, they learn from the process, as do head teachers, and improvement occurs as a result.
Brian Monteith made the important point that any shortfall that is found should be brought to light. That is part of the purpose of the inspection system. He also rightly said that, invariably, change occurs as a result of an unfavourable inspection, either through the removal of the head teacher or through other changes that improve the quality of the education. Even when the education in a school is mostly good, but deficient in parts, improvement occurs.
That said, the motion gives us the opportunity to examine the inspection system. There is no doubt that people in many countries of the world look with great envy on Scotland's inspection system and its history. Our inspectorate has high-quality staff who have great experience and who possess insights into school education that bring enormous benefits to our system as a whole. It is no accident that countries throughout the world look to Scotland to learn about our education system and about our inspection system, in particular. Many countries are adopting our system wholesale.
As Brian Monteith said, we often think that inspection is principally about inspection of institutions, but the inspectors also conduct themed inspections of subjects such as maths or modern studies, which offer insights into the system as a whole and act as a best-practice exchange—an important part of their role, which I would like to be developed further. From time to time, the inspectors produce a state of the nation report—Robert Brown mentioned "Improving Scottish Education". In addition, they can give ministers access to insights into the system that help to inform policy decisions.
As Fiona Hyslop and others have said, individual inspections are regarded as being extremely tough and rigorous and many schools face the prospect with a high degree of trepidation, but in my experience of going round the system over recent years and further back in time, despite that initial trepidation, the experience is almost invariably good. Education is about learning and because teachers understand learning, they learn from the process, as do head teachers, and improvement occurs as a result.
Brian Monteith made the important point that any shortfall that is found should be brought to light. That is part of the purpose of the inspection system. He also rightly said that, invariably, change occurs as a result of an unfavourable inspection, either through the removal of the head teacher or through other changes that improve the quality of the education. Even when the education in a school is mostly good, but deficient in parts, improvement occurs.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
Before the debate on school education starts, I must inform members that I am the only Presiding Officer available today and that I require a 10-minute break...
Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Ind):
Ind
Presiding Officer, will you clarify how long I have for my opening speech?
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
A little over four minutes.
Mr Monteith:
Ind
I am rather hopeful that this debate on schools will be better tempered than the previous debate, but one never knows. I was surprised to see that an amendme...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Wind up, please.
Mr Monteith:
Ind
I am just about to wind up, Presiding Officer.I propose that the inspectorate should come before the Education Committee annually to explain its annual repor...
The Deputy Minister for Education and Young People (Robert Brown):
LD
I welcome the terms of Brian Monteith's motion and the opportunity to pay tribute to the work of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education. It might be worth s...
Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind):
Ind
Can the minister explain why the chief inspector of schools says that standards of literacy and numeracy have risen while, at the same time, universities com...
Robert Brown:
LD
I accept that there is a series of issues to consider. The whole purpose of having inspection and local authority monitoring systems is constantly to improve...
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
I, too, support the motion and welcome its terms. We place on record our recognition of HMIE's valuable work in Scotland's education system. I am pleased, ho...
Mr Monteith:
Ind
I know that the member takes a great interest in the affairs of Linlithgow. Can she tell me whether she is satisfied that seven primary schools were not insp...
Fiona Hyslop:
SNP
Far be it from me to defend a Labour-Liberal Democrat Executive, but there were 14 years of Conservative Government between 1983 and 1997. I understand that ...
Mr Monteith:
Ind
Will the member give way?
Fiona Hyslop:
SNP
I am sorry, but I will continue if I may. There is a big agenda issue with HMIE's role in the curriculum for excellence. If we are to change the culture of S...
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con):
Con
Fiona Hyslop has made a very good speech and I welcome the fact that the independent members have raised the important work of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of ...
Margo MacDonald:
Ind
If every headmaster had complete freedom to set their own priorities, how could we avoid a situation in which parents decided that they preferred the managem...
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
Con
It is obviously important that parents have a say but, ultimately, the head teacher must make the decision. More decisions should be in local control. Parent...
Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
It is a pleasure to open for the Labour Party. In many respects, today is a remarkable day. It is remarkable for me because this is my first speech as a back...
Mr Monteith:
Ind
I have another example of a situation in which teachers and head teachers welcome inspection reports. When a report identifies that a school building is lett...
Peter Peacock:
Lab
Brian Monteith makes a valid point.I turn to the frequency of inspection, which is a difficult issue that we must examine. It is hard to strike the right bal...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
We move to the open debate. I ask that speeches be brief.
Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD):
LD
I, too, welcome the debate. Like Peter Peacock, I was surprised to read a motion in the name of Brian Monteith about consensus. In today's politically correc...
Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green):
Green
I well remember the time, in 1964, when I was awaiting with a dry mouth and sweaty palms my very first inspection. It was the inspection at the end of my fir...
Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol):
Sol
I welcome the debate that Brian Monteith has brought to the chamber, although I was a bit surprised to hear that he is disappointed that I lodged an amendme...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
We move to wind-up speeches. Again, I stress that members should keep to four minutes. I am advised that I have missed out Richard Baker. I am so sorry, Mr B...
Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab):
Lab
How could you, Presiding Officer?As we are short of time, I will cut to the chase. All members have welcomed HMIE's reports on schools, so there is no need f...
Mr Frank McAveety (Glasgow Shettleston) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome Peter Peacock to the bad boys benches at the back of the chamber. Looking at the members who are seated in the back rows confirms my view about tho...
Dave Petrie (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
The debate has been good. As another former teacher, I have experienced HMIE inspections, which I found to be fair, balanced and comprehensive, with any iden...
Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
The debate has been useful. The Scottish National Party thanks Brian Monteith for raising the subject—he is a man who could never be accused of lacking ideas...
Robert Brown:
LD
As a number of members have said, the debate has been useful. We are indebted to Brian Monteith for securing it. I should begin with the shameful declaration...