The Scottish Government is consulting on ideas to reform education. The main aim is to help close the attainment gap. Ideas include:
• Creating a Headteachers’ Charter (more autonomy for headteachers)
• Increased parent and community engagement in schools
• More pupil participation
• Regional Improvement Collaboratives (a way to help local authorities work together)
• Creating an Education Workforce Council for Scotland (to replace the General Teaching Council for Scotland)
We have produced a quick read document setting out the Scottish Government's proposals here.
The cross-party group of MSPs on the Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee that has been looking at these reforms visited various venues in Glasgow; and heard from a variety of stakeholders.
The Committee heard from staff and pupils at the Keppoch campus in the afternoon. Later the committee held focus groups attended by head teachers and deputy head teachers at the Lighthouse in Glasgow.
The Committees formal meeting followed the afternoon visits and focus groups and was held in the Lighthouse in Glasgow. The Committee heard evidence from several local authorities regarding the education reforms. The Official report of the meeting is here.
After the formal committee meeting further focus groups were held with Teaching staff, Parents, Young People and other interested parties.
The feedback from the the visit and the focus groups to Glasgow on the 15th January 2018 are noted below.