- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered introducing a minimum level of competency in relation to a first additional language (L2) throughout Scotland.
Answer
Our approach to language learning is a national one, giving every child the entitlement to learn a first additional language from P1 until the end of the Broad General Education (BGE) in S3. Additionally, each child is entitled to learn a second additional language or languages from P5 onwards.
In line with the flexibility of the Curriculum for Excellence, local authorities and schools are responsible for delivering a curriculum suited to their learners and local circumstances. However, national guidelines from Education Scotland on language teaching provide an agreed approach, as well as practical resources, on areas such as classroom language and how to plan for progression.
The entitlement to a first additional language (L2) is supported by a full suite of experiences and outcomes from the First to Fourth curriculum level. These describe the expected and appropriate level of proficiency at each curriculum level, but do not place a ceiling on achievement. As with other curricular areas, there is an expectation that most learners will reach the Fourth level in the L2 by the end of the BGE, and this is underpinned and supported by a framework of progression from Education Scotland. This provides a strong platform for attainment in National Qualifications or to pursue accreditation and recognition through the Languages for Life and Work award.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 4 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to implement the 14 recommendations from the report, Impact of Scotland’s Developing Young Workforce Strategy on Employer Engagement, and, if so, whether it will provide a timescale for the implementation.
Answer
In response to the recommendations from ‘Impact of Scotland’s Developing Young Workforce Strategy on Employer Engagement’ we are working with partners, including the employer led DYW network, to develop a delivery plan. The plan will build on the progress that we are making in supporting a record number of school leavers into an initial positive destination. We will provide further information during summer 2023.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 4 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on training providers has been of the reported apprenticeship freeze in early 2023.
Answer
As we have previously set out, there was no freeze on apprenticeships. In line with standard practice, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) reviewed changing demand for Modern Apprenticeship starts in-year and between December 2022 and February 2023 reallocated starts to providers as appropriate within their budget. During this period, and as part of their contract management process, SDS remained in close contact with training providers. Providers with any questions were also advised to contact SDS.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to expand the learning of (a) BSL and (b) other modern languages in schools.
Answer
Since 2013 the teaching of modern languages in schools has expanded considerably. Language learning is now normal in schools beginning at P1 and continuing throughout the Broad General Education (BGE). Prior to the introduction of the 1+2 approach, learning modern languages did not normally commence until later into primary schooling.
We have supported this expansion by providing funding of over £50million to partners and local authorities since 2013. This funding has been used to help upskill the workforce by providing teachers with training in language learning and teaching. It has also been used to promote language learning to learners, families and communities.
Under the 1+2 approach at least two languages should be taught during the BGE. The first additional language must be one that can be taught to the level of a National Qualification; however, the second additional language can be any language, including BSL. The second additional language does not need to be taught continuously, which gives pupils the opportunity to learn about a variety of languages and cultures. In keeping with the flexibility of Curriculum for Excellence, it is up to schools and local authorities to determine which languages they wish to offer.
We are working with a range of organisations to make sure that BSL is promoted to schools and local authorities, and that resources are developed to support schools that wish to offer BSL as one of the languages they teach. Uptake of BSL has steadily increased in the primary sector in recent years, with 113 schools across 24 local authorities reported to be teaching it as of 2021.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to increase the number of modern languages (a) teachers and (b) teaching assistants to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, in light of the reported decrease in numbers.
Answer
The Scottish Government has clear commitments to improve education, and those include more teachers in our schools.
During the pandemic we provided £240 million of additional investment to local authorities to support the recruitment of additional education staff to support education recovery. We recently set out measures to Parliament making it clear that we will provide £145.5 million in next year’s budget to protect increased teacher numbers and support staff. Where this is not being delivered by a local authority, we will withhold or recoup funding that has been given for this purpose.
Additionally, we value the contribution of languages assistants who come to our schools through a variety of programmes. This is why we have provided funding to partners such as British Council Scotland and the University of Strathclyde to manage and promote such programmes.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure continued efficient implementation of the 1+2 languages policy, in light of the reduction in funding allocated in 2023-24.
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to support language learning in schools. We are maintaining grant funding to key delivery partners, such as Scotland’s National Centre for Languages, to support schools and local authorities to deliver high-quality language learning.
Local authority funding in support of implementing the 1+2 approach was originally planned to cease after 2020-21. However, it was extended for a further two years in recognition of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. This was provided to help local authorities consolidate their progress and prepare strategies to ensure language learning continues to be a normal part of the curriculum.
The implementation of the 1+2 approach has led to language learning from P1 to S3 becoming a normalised part of the Broad General Education. Our surveys of local authorities show that 98% of primary schools and 100% of secondary schools now report offering language learning within the terms of the policy.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 27 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report, Impact of Scotland’s Developing Young Workforce Strategy on Education, and what its position is on the five recommendations made.
Answer
In response to the recommendations from ‘Impact of Scotland’s Developing Young Workforce Strategy on Education’ we are working with partners, including the employer led DYW network, to develop a delivery plan. The plan will build on the progress that we are making in supporting a record number of school leavers into an initial positive destination.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 27 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report, Impact of Scotland’s Developing Young Workforce Strategy on Employer Engagement, and what its position is on the fourteen recommendations made.
Answer
In response to the recommendations from ‘Impact of Scotland’s Developing Young Workforce Strategy on Employer Engagement’ we are working with partners, including the employer led DYW network, to develop a delivery plan. The plan will build on the progress that we are making in supporting a record number of school leavers into an initial positive destination.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 27 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being considered to provide additional support to higher education institutions to prevent their modern languages departments from being reduced or closed.
Answer
Scotland has universities that are not only world leaders in education and research but also key drivers of the Scottish economy and we recognise as part of that modern language provision plays an important role
Scottish universities are autonomous institutions and as such the Scottish Government does not intervene in internal institutional matters. With the exception of controlled subjects, the Scottish Government does not direct individual universities on the number of funded places made available for eligible Scottish and EU domicile students. Universities are allocated a finite amount of money. It is then for the universities themselves to decide: how to distribute these places between faculties; the courses they offer; and how many of the total funded places will be available on each course. When looking at modern language provision it is important to recognise that the university sector is not homogeneous, with different institutions providing different types of courses addressing different learner needs.
The 2023-24 Budget allocated nearly £2 billion to Scotland’s universities and colleges through the Scottish Funding Council, demonstrating our commitment to supporting our learners and institutions.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 3 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated from its Budget to cover
any additional costs resulting from the delay to the Deposit Return Scheme.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 3 May 2023
