Education and Lifelong Learning
School Maintenance (North Lanarkshire Council)
Ministers and Government officials meet local authorities on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues related to the school estate.
The minister may be aware that there is before the Scottish Futures Trust an outstanding bid—which I whole-heartedly support—from North Lanarkshire Council for the next available tranche of funding for a new campus for the excellent Greenfaulds high school, which is the largest secondary school in the council’s area. What information is there about when the Scottish Futures Trust is likely to make a decision on the matter?
I expect to make an announcement by the end of the month, although the member will appreciate that I am unable to speak about specific projects or applications at this stage.
Non-UK European Union Students
I have raised the matter of a management fee with the European commissioner, most recently at the Bologna conference of higher education ministers, where I also discussed the issue with the appropriate Austrian minister, who has similar issues. We are considering how the management fee might work in Scotland in the context of European law.
Since the last election, the cabinet secretary has repeatedly informed Parliament that discussions with the Commission and others on introducing a charge for EU students studying in Scotland are progressing, yet 15 months on we seem to be no nearer to a resolution. Given the First Minister’s announcement yesterday of his legislative programme, will the cabinet secretary confirm whether he has asked for any assessment to be carried out of the cost to a future Scottish Government of having to pay fees for rest-of-UK students studying in an independent Scotland? If so, will he publish those figures?
I have to say that there is a very simple solution to the issue and that I would welcome the opportunity for rest-of-UK students to be treated as EU students. The simple answer is independence. With independence we can resolve the issue once and for all, and I look forward to doing so.
“Unlocking Scotland’s Potential”
Widening access is a priority for this Government. We are determined to encourage aspiration and promote ambition so that students from all sections of society can reap the benefit of higher education. The National Union of Students has been extremely helpful in assisting us to develop our policy, and I expect that to continue as we introduce statutory widening access agreements as part of the post-16 bill. I regard “Unlocking Scotland’s Potential: Promoting fairer access to higher education” as yet another helpful and supportive contribution to the debate.
One aspect of the report was that it focused exclusively on the Scottish index of multiple deprivation 20 area measure on widening access. It might surprise members to learn that that leaves out—in Edinburgh alone—Gorgie, Drylaw, Leith, Oxgangs and Sighthill. Does the cabinet secretary agree that, in the forthcoming legislation, given the importance of the agreements, a wide range of metrics should be used in order to capture an accurate picture of whether universities are successfully opening their doors?
I have no difficulty with that. The Scottish Government recognises that we have a diverse universities sector and a diverse education sector. The contribution to widening access will vary across the sector. Equality of access is fundamental, so we have to start with that issue and with the importance of student retention. We must learn from projects such as the University of Glasgow project, which shows that those who are admitted through special schemes can do better at university than others. Widening access is not a quick fix; it is important that the agreements that we are putting in place also support activity with schools to build aspiration, achievement and long-term success.
How will the cabinet secretary monitor performance on widening access? What targets will be set for widening access?
As Mr Bibby will be aware, the process of finalising the outcome agreements with Scotland’s universities continues. There will be clear commitments within those agreements, but it is not a one-size-fits-all commitment. Each university will approach the issue differently. They will have to be encouraged to move in the right direction. Some have already moved much further than others.
At the time of the NUS document’s publication, it was suggested that the Scottish Government might look at the possibility of accepting students from disadvantaged backgrounds with slightly lower qualifications. Will the cabinet secretary give a response to that suggestion?
One just has to look at the University of Glasgow scheme, which I visited some weeks ago, to see that although nobody wants to say that the bar should be set less high, because academic achievement is very important, some flexibility within the system is important too. Indeed, the University of Glasgow scheme allows students to drop a grade in one or two subjects if their performance in the scheme has been such that the university believes that they can make a success of going to the university.
Further Education (Funding)
In line with the shift to regionalisation, our plan is for college funding to be based on the needs of a region in future. Our policy paper, “Putting Learners at the Centre”, set out the principles of a simpler, needs-based system. We shall consult on those proposals soon.
Is the cabinet secretary aware of this morning’s “Northern Lights: One Year On” report from PricewaterhouseCoopers, which concludes that maintaining the supply of appropriately skilled labour continues to be the greatest threat to Aberdeen’s ability to become a global energy centre of excellence? Will he assure us that, in assessing needs on a regional basis, he will take into account the need for skilled labour in industries that can lead Scotland’s economic growth, such as the energy, marine and engineering industries? Will he assure us that they will be central to the future funding of further education?
I welcome Mr Macdonald as a trailblazer in his party, because he has got exactly the point about college regionalisation and college change that I have made to his colleagues for some time. He sees precisely that we must focus the outcomes of further education on a region’s employment needs.
Has the cabinet secretary further considered those who are most vulnerable, who need the support of our further education colleges and who do not naturally go into employment—those with special needs?
Absolutely. I have made it clear throughout the regionalisation process that all learners’ needs must be taken into account. Often, we need to consider most intensely the needs of those who are furthest from the labour market.
Youth Unemployment Fund (West Dunbartonshire Council)
West Dunbartonshire Council receives £96,592 to support delivery of opportunities for all, which includes 16-plus learning choices and activity agreements. That funding enables the council to ensure robust transition planning for all young people from secondary 4 onwards, which enables them to access positive destinations.
I am sure that the minister recognises the scale of the challenge that faces West Dunbartonshire, and I am disappointed to note that nothing was allocated to the local authority from the youth unemployment fund. She knows my view that had funding been based on the percentage of the population that was unemployed, the council would have received support, because of its huge and increased unemployment levels. When she meets the council in the near future, will she consider further what assistance her Government can give to get young unemployed people in West Dunbartonshire into work?
Jackie Baillie refers to only one rather specific strand of funding, although it is important. With my national responsibilities, it is important for me to maximise the use of every pound and to try to reach as many young people as possible.
College Sector (Information Technology)
Colleges are responsible for taking their own spending decisions, for which they are held to account. It is therefore not possible to predict how much they will spend on information and communications technology systems in 2012-13. However, there is a strong commitment in the sector to secure efficiencies in the use of ICT and to improve existing processes. For example, colleges contributed actively to the McClelland review of ICT infrastructure in the public sector, which reported in June 2011, and they are taking forward its recommendations. Current and future college mergers will create the opportunity to develop common systems and deliver important financial savings.
In the past few months, we have heard reports of information technology systems in other Government departments that were signed off before 2007 and that are now deemed not fit for purpose. Can the cabinet secretary advise what the current contracted expenditure is on IT systems in the college sector, what the actual expenditure is to date on the systems since contract and how many of the systems were replicated across the sector? Will he ask Audit Scotland to instigate a full review of existing systems regarding their fitness for purpose and the plans for the future development of such systems in the new college infrastructures?
Given the detailed nature of those questions about exactly how many systems there are and how much they cost, I think that they would be better addressed to the colleges themselves. As I said in my initial answer, colleges are responsible for making their own spending decisions. Nevertheless, I would like to be helpful to Mr Brodie, so I will ask the chief executive of the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council to write to him about those issues and to see whether we can provide more information.
Rural Schools (Moratorium on Closures)
Given the current uncertainty regarding the outstanding judicial appeal of the case between Scottish ministers and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, and given the resulting delay of the report from the commission on the delivery of rural education, the Scottish Government fully supports the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, which has asked councils to use their best judgment and to avoid consulting on closures while the commission finalises its report for publication.
In my constituency, a school was due for closure prior to the moratorium. Since that time, the school roll has increased significantly and it has a new headteacher. Does the cabinet secretary agree that closure should be a last resort and that Logie Coldstone primary school is a perfect example of that?
Yes, I warmly agree with that. We have seen case after case in which, with the right approach and the right policies, the size of a rural primary school that is under threat has been increased. One of the many purposes of setting up the commission on the delivery of rural education was to share good practice and find out how that could be done.
Colleges (Mergers)
I am delighted that Margaret Burgess will be joining the ministerial team. It is always great to see a former election agent of mine do well—she has gone on to reach much greater heights.
The cabinet secretary will be aware that the new Ayrshire college will be a merger of Ayr College, Kilmarnock College and the Kilwinning campus of James Watt College, which is in my constituency and is the largest of the Ayrshire campuses. There is a genuine willingness among all parties to make the merger work for the benefit of learners in Ayrshire. However, there are still concerns about the Kilwinning campus, which is, in effect, part of a college and does not have parity with the other two colleges. What reassurances can the cabinet secretary give to the staff and students of the Kilwinning campus that it is a true merger and not a takeover? Will he come to Kilwinning campus with me to hear those concerns?
I will be delighted to come to Kilwinning with the member; indeed, it will not be the first time that I have visited the Kilwinning campus of James Watt College. However, I assure the member that all mergers should entered into on the basis of equality and parity of treatment. Kilwinning will be one of three partners making up the Ayrshire college, and I am absolutely certain that it will bring to the Ayrshire college very considerable advantages and distinctions in learning and teaching. I hope that the three partners will go forward on that basis, and I am very happy to encourage them to do so.
The cabinet secretary will be aware from his recent visits to Shetland and Orkney that similar concerns to those expressed about Kilwinning have been expressed about the implications of the college regionalisation agenda in the Highlands and Islands. In that context, will he confirm the remit of the group chaired by Michael Foxley and when he expects to receive the group’s recommendations?
I will meet Michael Foxley again tomorrow. The group’s remit is to take the outline agreement that I secured from the colleges and the University of the Highlands and Islands about how they will restructure in the new era, in which they have title and are forming a further education and a higher education institution, into a final organisational structure. The group is working on that.
My question is in the same vein as Margaret Burgess’s. Over the summer, I was contacted again by concerned staff and students at the land-based colleges in the east of Scotland who feel that that merger is more akin to a takeover by the Scottish Agricultural College. Are their concerns justified?
As Mr Findlay knows—because he was there—I have met some of those staff and students. At that stage, considerable changes still had to be made to the final arrangements. I do not regard the move as a takeover; it is a true and honest merger and I will do everything I can to ensure that the various parts come together—as they have done—in a constructive and equal way. Given that, in such circumstances, it is very important to encourage and be quite straightforward about change, we need to tell those involved the truth about these matters and ensure that they are encouraged to put their all into ensuring that these moves happen. I am happy to do that; indeed, if Mr Findlay invites me to take part in further discussions to help matters, I will always be happy to do so.
Schools (Building and Refurbishment Programme)
I expect to be able to announce which schools have been successful in securing funding in the third and final phase of the Scotland’s schools for the future programme by the end of September 2012.
Does the minister share my concern at Glasgow City Council’s failure to make any significant bids for additional school rebuilding or refurbishment projects, despite its being invited to do so in February? Furthermore, does he agree that that represents a lost opportunity for children in my Glasgow Anniesland constituency who attend schools, including Broomhill primary school and Blairdardie primary school, that are in great need of such work?
Although, as the member is aware, these are matters for Glasgow City Council, I certainly commend him for his diligence in pursuing the council on these issues.
The minister will be aware that East Renfrewshire Council’s previous funding bid for a new Barrhead high school was unsuccessful. Now that the council has submitted another application, will the minister look favourably on its bid for a new Barrhead high?
The member will appreciate that, as I have said previously, I cannot discuss individual applications from individual local authorities here. However, I can tell him that every application is looked at extremely carefully on its merits.
The minister will also be aware of the dreadful condition of many schools in Scotland that were left behind by Labour in its pursuit of private finance initiative schemes for a few. Having visited some of those schools in my constituency last Friday and seen some of the conditions that our children and teachers have to endure—[Interruption.]
Order!
Can the minister assure me that the programme will reach as many schools as possible to ensure that learning and teaching can take place in an environment fit for the 21st century?
The member will be aware that the Government has a manifesto commitment to halve the number of pupils in crumbling schools, which we are well on the way to achieving. In 2007, we had some 60 per cent of pupils in good-quality school buildings; by 2010 that figure had risen to 82 per cent. We continue to improve the situation and we are confident that we will meet that manifesto commitment nationally.
Pupils (Attainment at Standard Grade)
The Scottish Government does not routinely produce that information for standard grade 7 only. The recent Scottish Qualifications Authority results—pre-appeals—show an increase in the pass rates at grades 1 to 6. There is also an increase in those achieving grades 1 to 3.
The Wester Hailes education centre in my constituency has made great strides in raising student attainment in recent years. This year, 21 per cent of pupils achieved five or more standard grades at credit level—a dramatic increase on previous years. Will the minister join me in congratulating the staff and pupils who made that achievement possible, and will he examine the measures that were introduced in the school to identify whether they can be rolled out to other areas?
I am very happy indeed to congratulate the staff and pupils on their very considerable achievement, which has been brought to my notice by the member and by others. I will be happy to visit the school as part of my on-going programme of school visits. I understand that Education Scotland will be conducting a follow-up inspection next month, and I look forward to reading the results of its findings.
Non-UK European Union Students (University Fees)
The information is not currently available. Although students were encouraged to apply for support from April this year, the official closing date for applications for the 2012-13 session is not until 31 March 2013.
I noted what the cabinet secretary said in reply to Liam McArthur earlier about resolving the issue. The cabinet secretary has been saying for almost two years that the problem will be fixed. Can he tell the Parliament when it will be fixed?
The description of the issue as a problem is misguided. There are regulations that exist. It would be helpful if we could charge a fee to European Union students and I would like to be able to do so, but there are many obstacles and we are trying to negotiate our way through them.
Scotland-domiciled Students
Applications are still being processed, but the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service statistics show that by 22 August 2012, the number of Scotland-domiciled students accepted to study higher education in Scotland in 2012-13 stood at 25,945.
Despite the scare stories, the fact that a record number of Scottish students will start university this year is clear evidence of the importance of free education in this country. However, given the on-going budgetary pressures brought on by United Kingdom cuts, what assurances can the cabinet secretary give that the Scottish Government will continue to protect university places for future Scottish school leavers?
Our record investment in the higher education sector over this spending review period and the steps that we took to ensure that funding was focused on Scottish students will ensure that we continue to protect places at Scottish universities for Scottish students. By also taking steps to support widening access, we will support school leavers from all parts of Scotland to access higher education opportunities. We should remember that a record number of Scottish young people are studying at Scottish universities—opportunities have never been greater. We should celebrate that across this chamber.
Further Education (Assistance for Areas with Low Participation Rates)
I also welcome Mr Wheelhouse to the ministerial team and a job that I was fond of performing myself. I am sure that he will enjoy it greatly
I thank the cabinet secretary for his answer and his kind words.
Question, please.
Will the cabinet secretary meet me to discuss potential options for increasing participation among people from those areas?
I will be happy to meet the member. I commend the actions of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s new administration, for example, which decided last week to increase funding for the Crichton campus. That will allow the ambitious developments proposed for the Crichton to grow there, and will encourage further access. That is a positive step forward.
Edinburgh Napier University (Craighouse Campus)
I am not aware of any discussions. Universities are independent, autonomous institutions and, as such, the Scottish Government does not intervene in institutional matters such as decisions regarding their estates strategies.
I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer, but is he aware of the significant amount of local concern about the sale of the Craighouse campus by Edinburgh Napier University? It is seen as a valuable community asset. Notwithstanding Napier’s independence, does the cabinet secretary agree that the university has an obligation to achieve best value for the taxpayer, to ensure that all transactions are open and transparent, and to ensure that any assets are disposed of in a way that continues to provide benefit to the local community?
Yes, I am keen that the indissoluble link between universities and the communities that they serve is recognised. The Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council requires colleges and universities to seek its prior approval for the disposal of publicly funded property when the proceeds are likely to exceed £3 million. As part of the approval process, the Scottish funding council requires colleges and universities to demonstrate that they have obtained an appropriate professional valuation from a reputable property agent. I will ask the council’s chief executive to write to the member to reassure him on this matter, and I will be happy to meet him as well.
Question 15 is from Drew Smith. [Interruption.] Can members make sure that all electronic devices are switched off, please?
Postgraduate Students (Funding)
The Scottish Government is committed to supporting all students to realise their ambitions. Many postgraduates will have already received direct support as undergraduates. Under the postgraduate student allowances scheme, postgraduates might also be eligible for a loan of up to £3,400 to help pay some of or all their tuition fees. Further information is available from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland.
I have been contacted by a student who wants to study for an MSc in educational psychology. Although the SAAS will provide a small loan, the amount will not cover her course fees, never mind the other living costs that she would accrue. If my constituent lived in England, her fees would be paid and she would receive bursary payments. Will the minister confirm whether the training and recruitment of educational psychologists is a priority for the Scottish Government?
Arrangements were in place for the training of educational psychologists, but we have tried to standardise the arrangements for postgraduate support because that means that we can support more postgraduates to achieve more. I have to point out that this is the first Scottish Government that has moved to support postgraduates. It is one of my ambitions to expand support for postgraduate education.
Young Carers
We recognise the dedication of young carers and the support that they need. That has resulted in greater impetus at local level to ensure identification and support in schools. We fund the Scottish young carers services alliance to produce resources to equip primary school teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge to identify and support young carers. Similarly, resources for secondary schools—also funded by the Scottish Government—will be taken forward.
I note the initiatives that the minister highlighted. However, I joined hundreds of young carers at the young carers festival earlier this summer, and one of the key issues that they raised with me and other MSPs who were present from across the parties was the patchy nature of support for them in schools at present. That is an urgent matter as it is clearly an on-going issue for them. Will the minister pledge to look at it again in the near future to see what she can do to ensure that all young carers receive the same level of support, regardless of their local authority?
I recognise and respect the deep interest that Claudia Beamish has in the subject; no doubt she has experience of it from her professional life. I also attended the young carers festival, which the Scottish Government is committed to help with for another two years.
Postgraduate Students (Diploma in Legal Practice)
That information is not available at present as the closing date for applications is 31 March 2013. I can say, however, that because the loan is not means tested, all students can apply for the maximum loan, although some may choose not to do so.
I thank the cabinet secretary for his reply. Will he outline the rationale for the decision to change postgraduate student allowances scheme funding for DLP students from grant funding to a loan system and what impact that has had on the cost of the scheme?
I will use a set of figures that show the rationale. In 2011-12, 300 funded DLP places were available at Scottish institutions on a discretionary basis. The move to tuition fee loans allows us to expand support, meaning that 700 students will be funded this year. That action addresses previous concerns about the selection process at institutions for access to places with funding support and will allow more young people to move forward in their careers and to get support in postgraduate education. As I said earlier, that is something this Government is very keen to encourage. Professional and career development loans are available for all those students—deferred-payment bank loans that help to pay for vocational training leading to employment in the United Kingdom or in the European Union. Therefore, support is available. However, if we are to continue to support young people moving from undergraduate to postgraduate work, we need to support the tuition fee element. We are able to do so for more students, which I think should be welcomed across the chamber.
Rural Schools (Transport)
The commission has taken evidence on a wide range of issues affecting the delivery of rural education, including school transport.
The cabinet secretary will be aware that the more rural an authority—I am talking about authorities such as Dumfries and Galloway Council—the more significant such issues are. Many parents in Dumfries and Galloway have asked me whether there cannot be a better solution than the uncertainty of grace-and-favour places. Will the cabinet secretary undertake to work with rural authorities to help them to find the best solutions to the problem?
Yes, the Government is always happy to work with local authorities. However, I stress that, as the member knows, responsibility for the provision of school transport rests with local authorities. They are best placed to know what should and what should not be supported in their own areas. That includes working within the safe routes to schools project, through which we ensure that every child is safe on their way to and from education.
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