Chamber
Plenary, 15 Feb 2007
15 Feb 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Education
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 correct times, the debate could be referred to as a parenthood and baked-fruit product debate.
It is important to have consensus in a debate on HMIE because one of the key strengths of that body as it has developed in recent years has been its consensual approach to the inspection process. It tries to involve schools in developing its inspection process in order to show them that it is about working with them to improve young people's education. HMIE has moved away from a confrontational approach, whereby the prospect of the inspectors' arrival induced fear in teachers. Brian Monteith mentioned that inspections are a trying experience for schools; perhaps he could help to make matters less trying by not visiting them when they have just had an inspection. It is important that rather than regarding inspection as a trying experience, schools view it as an opportunity to work with the inspectorate to find ways in which they can improve.
Peter Peacock made an important point about self-improvement. By their nature, inspections are a spot check in a particular week. Schools must evaluate and improve what they do every day of the year throughout their children's education, not just when an inspection is due. We have moved away from the situation in which a school would receive investment or benefit from improvements only when a new head teacher arrived or when an inspection was due, and we must ensure that that continues to be the case. It is important to acknowledge that the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 will help parents to have greater involvement in ensuring that evaluation and improvement take place in schools every day.
It is also important to acknowledge that HMIE has a much wider role than just inspecting schools. That traditional role is important—given that the first inspector of schools was, I believe, appointed in 1840, it is a role with a long history—but HMIE is also involved in the overall improvement of Scotland's education. Peter Peacock mentioned the "Improving Scottish Education" report, in which HMIE draws on the experiences of inspections over a number of years to find out where improvements are needed in Scottish education. That document is an important snapshot of where Scottish education is and what needs to be done to improve it.
The role that HMIE plays today, not only in the inspection but in the development of education, is extremely important in ensuring continuous improvement. I refer to its work with agencies such as Learning and Teaching Scotland, the people who are involved in implementing the curriculum for excellence, and those in the teaching profession more generally.
Our approach in Scotland can be contrasted positively with that down in England. I remain very concerned about the role and nature of the Office for Standards in Education, the equivalent of HMIE south of the border. Although Ofsted recognises that most schools in England are performing well, it takes a much more confrontational stance in its inspections. Schools fear that they may be subject to special measures or to notices to improve—such things do not exist in the Scottish system. Obviously, HMIE recognises that some schools need improvement, but it does not go down the formal route of deeming a school to be a failing school, which does no good for a school's staff or pupils. All schools should be deemed to have the ability to improve; they should not be deemed to be failures. It is important that local authorities in particular respond to the role that HMIE plays.
My final plea goes to the local education authority in my constituency, Fife education. I ask it to respond to the very serous criticisms of the quality of buildings at Madras college. I hope that it will bring forward an action plan for a new Madras college and a new secondary school at the Tay bridgehead in north-east Fife.
It is important to have consensus in a debate on HMIE because one of the key strengths of that body as it has developed in recent years has been its consensual approach to the inspection process. It tries to involve schools in developing its inspection process in order to show them that it is about working with them to improve young people's education. HMIE has moved away from a confrontational approach, whereby the prospect of the inspectors' arrival induced fear in teachers. Brian Monteith mentioned that inspections are a trying experience for schools; perhaps he could help to make matters less trying by not visiting them when they have just had an inspection. It is important that rather than regarding inspection as a trying experience, schools view it as an opportunity to work with the inspectorate to find ways in which they can improve.
Peter Peacock made an important point about self-improvement. By their nature, inspections are a spot check in a particular week. Schools must evaluate and improve what they do every day of the year throughout their children's education, not just when an inspection is due. We have moved away from the situation in which a school would receive investment or benefit from improvements only when a new head teacher arrived or when an inspection was due, and we must ensure that that continues to be the case. It is important to acknowledge that the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 will help parents to have greater involvement in ensuring that evaluation and improvement take place in schools every day.
It is also important to acknowledge that HMIE has a much wider role than just inspecting schools. That traditional role is important—given that the first inspector of schools was, I believe, appointed in 1840, it is a role with a long history—but HMIE is also involved in the overall improvement of Scotland's education. Peter Peacock mentioned the "Improving Scottish Education" report, in which HMIE draws on the experiences of inspections over a number of years to find out where improvements are needed in Scottish education. That document is an important snapshot of where Scottish education is and what needs to be done to improve it.
The role that HMIE plays today, not only in the inspection but in the development of education, is extremely important in ensuring continuous improvement. I refer to its work with agencies such as Learning and Teaching Scotland, the people who are involved in implementing the curriculum for excellence, and those in the teaching profession more generally.
Our approach in Scotland can be contrasted positively with that down in England. I remain very concerned about the role and nature of the Office for Standards in Education, the equivalent of HMIE south of the border. Although Ofsted recognises that most schools in England are performing well, it takes a much more confrontational stance in its inspections. Schools fear that they may be subject to special measures or to notices to improve—such things do not exist in the Scottish system. Obviously, HMIE recognises that some schools need improvement, but it does not go down the formal route of deeming a school to be a failing school, which does no good for a school's staff or pupils. All schools should be deemed to have the ability to improve; they should not be deemed to be failures. It is important that local authorities in particular respond to the role that HMIE plays.
My final plea goes to the local education authority in my constituency, Fife education. I ask it to respond to the very serous criticisms of the quality of buildings at Madras college. I hope that it will bring forward an action plan for a new Madras college and a new secondary school at the Tay bridgehead in north-east Fife.
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...