Question reference: S6W-08304
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 29 April 2022
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Current status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 May 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the educational psychology bursary being liable for taxation during the third year of a course.
Answer
The Scottish Government and COSLA agreed a joint funding model in 2018 to support the training of new Educational Psychologists. This model was agreed and developed by the National Scottish Steering Group for Educational Psychologists (NSSGEP), which the Scottish Government chairs. This group includes representation from professional bodies, ADES, COSLA and EIS.
The model consists of two stages. Stage one is a 2-year MSc in Educational Psychology at Dundee University. Tuition fees are fully funded and students are entitled to receive a living-costs grant of £15,000 from SAAS.
In Stage two, trainees are employed by a local authority for a year, during which they complete the Qualification in Educational Psychology (QEP). During this year, their living-costs grant is paid in the form of a salary. In addition, their membership fees for the British Psychological Society (BPS) are paid.
As local authority employees, trainees are liable for tax and national insurance, but also benefit from employment rights including paid annual leave and the option to join a pension scheme. The Scottish Government agreed with the NSSGEP that employment in a local authority offers the experience and support needed for trainees in their third year.