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Chamber and committees

Stand Up for Quality Education

  • Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour.
  • Date lodged: Monday, 15 January 2024
  • Motion reference: S6M-11875
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, 17 January 2024

Motions as amended

That the Parliament acknowledges the recent Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results, which highlight areas for improvement in Scottish education, particularly in mathematics; understands that the Scottish Government is taking forward a planned and systematic curriculum improvement cycle to enhance standards, which will focus initially on maths; welcomes the recent publication of the 2022-23 Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels (ACEL), which it recognises is the most comprehensive and up-to-date national data set on attainment and which shows record levels of attainment across primary school level and improvements in secondary school level; agrees that these results by Scotland's pupils, teachers and school staff deserve commendation; notes that Scotland has the highest investment per pupil and lowest pupil/teacher ratio in the UK, and that, in addition to a record £830 million spend on additional support for learning (ASL), work is underway to update the Additional Support for Learning Action Plan and deliver a range of measures to improve the experiences and outcomes of pupils with additional needs; welcomes that Scotland has the most comprehensive free school meal offering of any nation in the UK, which will be further extended by investment in the 2024-25 Budget, and further welcomes the sector-wide agreement on the need for a holistic package of education reforms, which it agrees should be taken forward in partnership with Scotland's teachers and young people.


Supported by: Martin Whitfield

Vote

Result 67 for, 54 against, 1 abstained, 7 did not vote Vote Passed

Scottish National Party

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Scottish Labour

Scottish Green Party

Scottish Liberal Democrats

For
0
Against
Abstained
0
Did not vote
0

No Party Affiliation

For
0
Against
0
Abstained
0
Did not vote

Alba Party

For
0
Against
0
Abstained
Did not vote
0

Original motion text

That the Parliament acknowledges the recent Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results, and the conclusions that educational standards in Scotland are declining; considers that there are a number of contributing factors that have led to the current difficulties in Scotland’s classrooms; notes the Educational Institute of Scotland’s (EIS) Stand Up for Quality Education campaign, which sets out recommendations on teacher workloads, resourcing for pupils with additional support needs (ASN) and addressing violent and disruptive behaviour in classrooms as key steps to improving the experience of pupils and teachers; agrees with the Scottish Government’s International Council of Education Advisers that “the time for commissioning reviews is now over”, and calls on the Scottish Government to set out a timetable for when it will deliver on its promises in education, including addressing the continued use of temporary teacher contracts, improving workloads by increasing non-contact time for teachers, addressing the gaps in teacher provision in geographical and subject areas, delivering structural reforms, including to the SQA and Education Scotland, and meeting its commitment to offer free breakfasts in primary and special schools.

Accepted amendments

Motion ref. S6M-11875.2

Stand Up for Quality Education - Amendment - Amendment

Submitted by: Jenny Gilruth, Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party, Date lodged: Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Supported by: Graeme Dey, Natalie Don
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Result 67 for, 55 against, 1 abstained, 6 did not vote Vote Passed

Defeated amendments

Motion ref. S6M-11875.1

Stand Up for Quality Education - Amendment - Amendment

Submitted by: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date lodged: Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Current status: Taken in the chamber on Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Result 31 for, 91 against, 1 abstained, 6 did not vote Vote Defeated