- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding the use of mobile phones in schools.
Answer
Work to refresh guidance on the use of mobile phones in schools is underway. There have been high level discussions with local authority and school representatives as part of that process. The Scottish Advisory Group on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools, which includes a wide range of representative interests, including local authorities and others, will oversee the development of the refreshed guidance, which will be published in the Spring.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its explorative work regarding building consistency in teacher judgement across all curriculum areas.
Answer
I am advised that Education Scotland established a National Timetable Group in October 2022. This brought together experienced timetablers from across Scotland. I am advised that the group has met on a number of occasions and has considered the practicalities of providing additional time for collegiate working to support moderation. Education Scotland is gathering analysis with a view to sharing case studies of approaches from schools and local authorities.
Education Scotland has carried out a survey of teachers via curriculum area networks on support for consistency in teacher professional judgement . This survey received responses from over 500 teachers.
Education Scotland has initiated a programme of exploratory work with teachers from across all Dundee City Council secondary schools to explore approaches to improving the consistency of teacher professional judgment.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates the review of the literacy and English curriculum update will begin.
Answer
The curriculum improvement cycle for Literacy and English will commence later in 2024 and will be informed by a range of evidence, including The Education Scotland pilot curriculum review, which will commence in March 2024, the thematic inspection of Literacy and English, also announced on 12 December.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when it next plans to meet the chief executive of Education Scotland to discuss education.
Answer
Education Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government and as such there is regular engagement between Scottish Government and Education Scotland officials on a range of education matters. Senior Scottish Government officials will next meet the Interim Chief Executive of Education Scotland to discuss education on 28 February 2024.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out the mechanisms used by Education Scotland to consult on its Inclusion, Wellbeing and Equalities Professional Learning Framework.
Answer
As noted in the answer to question S6W-24947 on 19 February 2024, the draft Professional Framework will undergo further evaluation and consultation about ease of use from now until March 2024.
This evaluation evidence will be used to inform further development with another opportunity for users to provide feedback on the content from March 2024 to June 2024. The evaluation will be provided by users of the Framework and is included at the end of the material. It will also be gathered by Education Scotland staff delivering content from the Framework. Other on-going consultation and feedback will occur through our Networks and programme boards which Education Scotland attend.
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 .
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the absence of information on gender-based violence from Education Scotland's guidance on behaviour in schools, whether it plans to develop separate guidance on this topic.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23510 on 19 December 2023. 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 .
- Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what measures it is taking to improve the take-up of languages in education.
Answer
Since 2013 the Scottish Government has provided local authorities and third sector partners with funding of over £50m in support of the implementation of the 1+2 languages approach in schools.
A 2021 survey of local authorities confirmed that pupils across Scotland are now learning languages from primary one and continuing throughout their broad general education, up to the point when they make their subject choices.
We remain committed to language learning in the broad general education and the senior phase. We continue to work with Education Scotland which provides national guidance, resources and professional learning programmes for teachers. We also continue to fund third sector partners such as Strathclyde University who host Scotland’s National Centre for Languages (SCILT). SCILT provides professional development, classroom resources and undertakes activity to promote language learning. We are also happy to meet with other partners and interested parties to discuss further ways of supporting languages in schools.
In terms of post-school education, universities and colleges are responsible for their own course provision. In line with our Purpose and Principles for the post-school education and skills system, the Scottish Government will continue to work with both sectors to ensure that they deliver the best outcomes and impact for learners, the economy and society.
- Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers as set out in the 2024-25 Budget, what assessment it has made of the potential impact of any new levy on the behaviour of retailers that are liable for the new levy and also become liable for a workplace parking levy, including whether such retailers may be more or less inclined to pass some or all of the cost of the parking levy onto their staff.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24498 on 23 January 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 .
- Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers as set out in its Budget for 2024-25, whether such a levy would be in addition to the intermediate property rate where that applies.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24444 on 22 January 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 .
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many personnel trained to handle XL Bully-type dogs Police Scotland currently has available, and what additional resources are being made available to train more, in light of the decision announced on 18 January 2024 to introduce new regulations.
Answer
This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. Police Scotland has advised that all Police Scotland Dog Handlers receive training in dangerous dogs as part of their initial training course. There are currently 74 Handlers/Instructors across Police Scotland.
Armed Policing are also trained in how to deal with dangerous dogs.
It is a matter for Police Scotland to consider the enforcement of the new safeguards in relation to XL Bully dogs and any operational issues that arise.
The Scottish Government is committed to ongoing engagement with Police Scotland as we move through the two-stage process for the new safeguards in relation to XL Bully dogs, in order to consider any issues, concerns, or barriers to effective implementation.