Chamber and committees

It is the responsibility of individual colleges to assess teaching costs. In support, however, the Tripartite Alignment Group of Scottish Government, Scottish Funding Council and Colleges Scotland has been considering the development of a costing methodology for Scotland’s colleges, building on work initiated by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). Given the vast range of provision delivered at and from Scottish colleges, it is highly complex to develop a methodology which is relevant and scalable. However, several colleges are currently piloting a benchmarking exercise. Colleges Scotland expects to report back to the Tripartite Alignment Group on the results of this pilot in the spring. Further information on the Tripartite Alignment Group can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/groups/colleges-tripartitealignmentgroup/

Throughout February 2024 the Scottish Government is undertaking consultation events with members of the Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Working Group on the draft Student Mental Health Action Plan. Following this, and the completion of attendant Impact Assessments, the Scottish Government will publish the Student Mental Health Action Plan .

The draft Plan sets out our expectations for institutions on supporting student mental health and wellbeing and how the Scottish Government will work with them and the wider public sector to give effect to those. It recognises the critical importance of early intervention and prevention and ensuring effective access to a diverse range of community-based clinical and non-clinical services. It outlines the significant levels of Scottish Government investment in mental health and wellbeing support which students can access. It makes clear the importance of providing timely clinical acute care for those who require it and how we will work with NHS Boards and institutions in this area.

The Good Governance Steering Group has had oversight of the implementation of the addition of trade union nominees to college boards.

The Good Governance Steering Group is monitoring the progress of trade union nominations and the Scottish Government expects the Group to continue to keep abreast of good governance in the college sector and to inform the Scottish Government of governance issues.

A note of the Head Teacher Taskforce meeting held on 27 June 2023 can be accessed here: Head Teacher Taskforce on Exclusion minutes: June 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

An update on the provision of digital devices was given in the 2024-25 Scottish Government Budget.

In order to maximise the impact of capital funding available, we will seek to provide support at a household level, targeting investment specifically at disadvantaged families with children. This approach will improve equity of access to devices and connectivity for those who need it most, helping families realise the broad range of benefits associated with digital inclusion. It will also enable access not only to digital tools and resources for learning, but to digital society and online public services. Through doing so, it will expand the impact of this investment beyond learners to their wider families.

The total cost for commissioning the Lessons Learned report was £25,000.

In my statement to Parliament on 5 December 2023, I reiterated my commitment to streamline funding for colleges, universities and apprenticeships. As a first step, this means bringing together funding for student support into one place and funding for apprenticeships into one place.

The Scottish Government will provide further detail shortly.

The Scottish Government does not hold information about meetings between College Employers Scotland and trade unions.

However, it is my intention, in the coming weeks, to convene a roundtable discussion, with all partners, to discuss the next steps.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-25100 on 27 February 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-25063 on 27 February 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .