Chamber and committees

Decisions around the delivery of education are the responsibility of each local authority. Schools review their own curriculum plans. Education Scotland has written to all Directors of Education and reminded them of the expectation that plans for the S1 to S3 curriculum should avoid closing off options for the choice of qualifications for learners when they enter the Senior Phase at the start of S4.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05414 on 29 February 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx

Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) has been implemented progressively in every secondary school in Scotland starting with S1 in August 2010. Directors of Education have confirmed their schools are on track to deliver the new National Qualifications. Education Scotland, through its District Inspector and Area Adviser networks, maintains regular discussions with local authorities over delivery of CfE. Education Scotland along with other national partners gathered evidence from its inspection and development activities in 2011 on progress towards implementation of CfE. This evidence included assessment of progress in delivering the broad general education up to S3 which will provide a secure platform for the study for new national qualifications from S4. Educations Scotland gathers evidence on an ongoing basis through regular meetings and inspections in secondary schools in every local authority area.

Directors of Education have confirmed their schools are on track to deliver the new National Qualifications. Where a secondary school - with the agreement of the local authority - identifies a department in need of support beyond that already provided through the local authority, Education Scotland and SQA will work in close partnership with the local authority to identify what further support is necessary how to deliver it.

Learners have been consulted on Curriculum for Excellence and the new qualifications. HM Inspectors gather young people’s views of their learning experiences during inspection and use their responses to inform inspection activities, discussions with staff and HM Inspectors update reports to Management Board on CfE implementation. The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has sought the views of pupils in coming up with the general design for the new National Qualifications, and on some subject specific issues. The Scottish Government is currently funding Children in Scotland and the Scottish Youth Parliament to create a web-based resource to encourage young people to learn about and participate in Curriculum for Excellence. This will be launched in spring 2012.

Funding for individual schools is a matter for local authorities. In 2011-12 the Scottish Government is providing local authorities with revenue funding of £10.9 billion. The vast majority of this funding, which includes funding for education, is provided by means of a block grant.

For 2012-15 local government’s revenue funding will be maintained at £10.9 billion per year and their share will still be higher in 2014-15 than it was in 2007-08. Within this, funding of £3.762 million is available to help support quality assurance and moderation of assessment in schools.

In addition, Education Scotland is funded to provide advice and guidance to the system. SQA also receive funding towards the development of the new qualifications including providing advice and guidance to schools. In 2011-12, the budget for this was £8.351 million.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning recently met with Larry Flanagan of EIS and offered to consider any requests for additional resources which might be received from local authorities.

All schools have locally agreed cover arrangements. Local authorities are legally required to employ adequate numbers of teachers who are registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

The Scottish Government regularly meets with the teaching unions to discuss a wide range of issues including teacher workload.

In addition, the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT), the tripartite body comprising the Scottish Government, COSLA and Teacher Unions, has a process for monitoring teacher workload. The SNCT has provided guidance to local negotiating committees on managing teacher workload and working time arrangements. The Scottish Government plays its full part in all SNCT discussions.

The Scottish Government does not collect information on local authority supply lists. Recruitment and deployment of teachers are matters for the local authorities, as the employers of teachers, to determine.

Recruitment and deployment of teachers are matters for local authorities, as employers, to determine. The Scottish Government does not provide specific advice to local authority employers. However, all local authorities are legally required to employ adequate numbers of teachers who are registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland and all schools will have locally agreed cover arrangements.