This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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National Debate on Education
29/01/2003
Greater subject choice, fewer tests and exams, and smaller classes at the crucial transitional stage between primary and secondary school feature in the Executive's response to the National Debate on Education which was published today.
In a statement to Parliament, Education Minister Cathy Jamieson said it signalled new thinking for school education in Scotland in the 21 st century.
Key areas identified for action are:
- Smaller classes at crucial stages
- Simplified assessment
- Review of school curriculum
- Improved information for parents
- More control over budgets for headteachers
Ms Jamieson pledged to improve literacy and numeracy levels, particularly for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people.
She said:
"This is a key priority and requires action on a number of fronts. It is essential that schools give our young people a solid grounding in the basic skills.
Smaller class sizes at crucial stages combined with reform of Initial Teacher Education will ensure that all new teachers have the necessary training to raise standards of literacy and numeracy.
"Literacy and numeracy will be at the heart of a revised curriculum and we will not tolerate underperformance in these areas.
Schools which do not deliver in these key areas will not be allowed to continue to fail their pupils year on year. We will focus HM Inspectorate of Education's efforts on working with the schools which really need to improve."
Ms Jamieson announced a review of the school curriculum designed to ensure that pupils will be able to opt for subjects - academic and vocational - that best matched their interests and aspirations.
She also vowed to look at options to reduce the amount of time spent by pupils and teachers on tests and exams, and to give even greater flexibility to individual schools. She said:
"Choice for pupils means giving more control and flexibility to schools. We will give more responsibility over budgets to headteachers, so that they make choices that benefit their pupils.
"We will also bring forward new proposals to reduce class sizes and improve pupil/teacher ratios at the critical stages of P7, S1 and S2, and particularly in Maths and English.
"Smaller classes at crucial stages and more flexible working will make a real difference to pupils' experience."
Recognising concerns raised over indiscipline in schools, Ms Jamieson pointed to the work already underway, but added:
"Recommendations from the discipline task group are already being implemented but no-one should be in any doubt that we will act further where necessary."
New national guidelines will give parents better information about their child's progress at school. The role of school inspection will be strengthened to give clearer and more frequent reports to parents.
The Minister concluded:
"Scottish schools can deliver a word class education. I believe every school can be a centre of excellence at the heart of its local community.
"We have had the debate and we have reported back the independent analysis of all the views. Now we come to action. This document is the workplan for the Scottish Executive, education authorities and schools. Now we all need to work together to deliver excellence and make a real difference to all our school-children."
Summary of key priorities
- Increase pupil choice by reviewing the school curriculum to suit 21 st century needs and to reduce substantially the current overload in the 5-14 curriculum. We will establish which subjects might form a well-balanced core around which pupils will have expanded access to choices such as vocational training.
- Simplify and reduce the amount of assessment to cut down the number of tests and exams and the amount of time spent on them. We have started this work, but we will look at more radical options such as only sitting exams when pupils leave school instead of every year from S4.
- Bring forward proposals to reduce class sizes and improve pupil/teacher ratios at critical stages such as P7, S1 and S2, particularly in Maths and English, and have more learning in small groups. We must make sure that pupils will benefit from falling school rolls over the next decade.
- Tackle discipline problems and bullying by fully implementing the recommendations of the Discipline Task Group, reviewing their impact and taking further action where necessary.
- Improve school buildings to create a school estate in which all schools have the right facilities, are well designed, well built and provide a flexible environment which continues to meet future needs.
- Give more control over budgets to headteachers so that the people closest to the children can decide how best to use resources. Introduce greater flexibility for schools and education authorities through local agreements for excellence.
- Have teachers work across primary and secondary schools. We will act to make sure this flexibility is being used to deliver the best education for pupils and help them make the transition from primary to secondary.
- Involve parents more in their children's education by providing new national guidelines giving parents access and by reviewing and reforming the role of School Boards and Parent Teacher Associations .
- Strengthen the role of inspection by delivering clearer and more frequent reports to parents and focusing more directly on schools which need to improve. Consider what additional powers may be required to ensure underperformance is tackled.
The National Debate was launched on March 20 2002, and the deadline for feedback was July 12.
Briefing packs were sent to every school and education authority in Scotland, and to over 200 organisations who intended to hold National Debate events.
Around 800 events were held in total. A hotline number and website supported the Debate. It is estimated that over 20,000 people took part.