Chamber and committees

How do you know that the measures that you are putting in are effective? Do you ask the witnesses?

I want to ask about children in the criminal justice system. Having read through the evidence, I understand that the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service has taken steps to improve the experience of children in court proceedings through the use of evidence suites and so on. However, we know that traditional court settings are not settings in which children’s rights can be upheld or where children can be heard. Do you agree with that statement? If so, how will the provisions in the bill ensure that those rights will be upheld in appropriate settings for every child, whether they are the victim or the accused?

I ask Kenny Donnelly to answer that one.

I can see that you are very passionate about this subject, Katy, and I thank you for outlining the very complex issues surrounding it. I note, too, from your written evidence that you were disappointed with the Scottish Government’s response.

Perhaps I can bring in Fiona Dyer and Megan Farr. We have touched on the issue of safeguarding, but is there anything further that you wish to add on the matter? In particular, we need views on safeguarding to ensure the welfare and protection of vulnerable children in the context of cross-border placements.

Yes.

I thank Mr Kerr for his intervention. I am about to come on to suggestions that I am happy to push for.

Of course, there remains much work to be done. I welcome the cabinet secretary’s ambition to continually advance and reform our education programme, which is demonstrated by the independent review of qualifications and assessment in Scotland that began last year. The Hayward review is primarily focused on ensuring that those who are aged between 15 and 18 have an enhanced and equal opportunity to demonstrate the breadth, depth and relevance of their learning. It aims to provide a new model for qualifications and assessment that is fit for the 21st century.

The interim report suggests that a better and more clearly defined integration of academic and vocational qualifications will be required, with careful consideration of the language in course descriptors. I believe that, if that is adopted, it could go some way towards addressing the challenges that are associated with outdated perceptions and move us towards the parity of esteem for vocational and academic courses that Ken Muir’s report referred to.

I am glad to hear the cabinet secretary’s commitment to ensuring that parity of esteem for all our learners’ qualifications and achievements will be at the heart of the reforms. We must progress from valuing only what we measure, and data, to measuring what we value. We absolutely value our learners and all that they bring not only to our economy but to our society and our culture. I look forward to hearing about the progress that is being made on that.

I encourage the Scottish Government to continue to take pragmatic steps to ensure that all our young people will explore and develop their curiosities, hopes, skills and interests and, ultimately, find a pathway into employment that works best for them.

I thank the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills for securing the debate. Hailed among the pioneers of 21st century learning, Scotland’s curriculum for excellence was designed in the wake of extensive public debate, which I remember well as we came towards the end of the five-to-14 curriculum. The aim was to provide a holistic approach to education that would equip our young people with the skills that are needed to flourish in a rapidly changing world.

As a teacher, I have often felt and been told that the immense benefits of practical training and skills-based courses are too easily overlooked. That sentiment is echoed in Professor Ken Muir’s 2022 report “Putting Learners at the Centre: Towards a Future Vision for Scottish Education”. According to college students who the report refers to,

“Some vocational routes such as Duke of Edinburgh were viewed as being for the misbehaving kids and not valued or seen to be as important as for example Maths or English, if you weren’t taking exams, then you’re looked down upon.”

Such perceptions are changing, and our youngsters are being nurtured and developed as a result of a carefully constructed system that takes into account the incredible range of talent that we see in our schools. The system offers opportunities for qualifications across a wide variety of sectors from financial services, engineering and digital marketing to event management and hospitality. There are many courses available that are industry tailored to prepare students for a successful future in the workforce.

Those routes are really important as part of wider measures to address areas that are experiencing the skills and workforce shortages that colleagues across the chamber have mentioned. Ensuring the provision of such courses is also essential to the Scottish Government’s long-standing commitment to promoting inclusivity and assisting those who are most in need, as is reflected in the developing the young workforce strategy.

Gordon Stobart has highlighted that Scotland’s inclusive practices were demonstrated by its early move away from selective schools to comprehensive schools, which has meant that a typical classroom will enjoy—as I enjoyed—having students from a variety of cultural, social and economic backgrounds, as well as students with a broad spectrum of interests and attainments. The use of varied formats is key to serving a more diverse student body. Having worked in education previously, I whole-heartedly agree that offering greater choice and learning flexibility remains a key way—and one of the most effective ways—of boosting attainment and reducing wider inequalities.

As we have heard today, a record number of young people were in work, training or further study after leaving school in 2022. In that regard, I pay tribute to two schools in my Glasgow Kelvin constituency—the Glasgow Gaelic school and Hyndland secondary school, both of which achieved 100 per cent positive destinations for senior phase pupils.

The Glasgow Gaelic school offers several options for its learners. From S4, it offers part-time placements, through working with its three partner colleges. It is also supported by developing the young workforce colleagues, Skills Development Scotland and, I hear from the teachers, a great careers adviser. The school says that one reason why it has achieved those positive destinations is that it knows its children and their families and it can work with them to get the best outcome for each and every individual.

I put on the record my thanks to the strong staff team in the senior phase, which is led by depute head Ms Julie MacNeil. The school’s fantastic achievement and accomplishment is a testament to the hard work of pupils and staff following what has been an incredibly difficult and unsettling time. This is not about self-congratulation; it is about acknowledging fully and whole-heartedly the continuing hard work of all our teachers, which has been cited by my colleagues.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees condemns it, international charities are horrified by it, and the European Commission is scathing of it. It might, indeed, be in violation of the continent-wide European Convention on Human Rights. Does the First Minister agree that the United Kingdom Government’s Illegal Migration Bill has no place in the open and international Scotland that we in this Parliament are seeking to build?

I pay tribute to the staff at the Golden Jubilee hospital for their valued work in providing the highest-quality treatment and care for NHS Scotland patients. As elected members, we are all aware of cases where referral for treatment at the Golden Jubilee for cataract surgery has reduced the prospect of potentially lengthy waiting times by a significant number of weeks or months. Does the cabinet secretary agree that redirection to the Golden Jubilee eye centre is having a significant positive effect on local health board cataract waiting lists?

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any on-going work with the NHS Golden Jubilee to make additional capacity available for elective operations in order to minimise pressure on waiting times. (S6O-02009)

I met the chief executive of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport last week in my constituency of Glasgow Kelvin. One of the primary concerns is the chronic shortage of bus drivers, which is affecting bus operators the length and breadth of the country. Will the minister outline what support the Government is providing regarding recruitment and retention of bus drivers to alleviate some of the pressures that are being experienced by bus services?