Chamber and committees

That is fine. Are there socioeconomic or geographical factors that affect which pupils can participate?

Yes.

I now hand over to Douglas, who will convene the rest of the meeting.

Good morning and welcome to the 27th meeting of the Education, Children and Young People Committee in 2024. We have apologies from Stephanie Callaghan and I welcome Jackie Dunbar, who is attending as a committee substitute.

I also welcome Douglas Ross and Miles Briggs, who are joining us for the first time and replacing our previous colleagues Sue Webber and Liam Kerr. On behalf of the committee, I thank Sue and Liam for their contributions to our work this session.

As Douglas and Miles are joining us for the first time today, our first item of business is to invite them to declare any relevant interests. I invite Douglas Ross to speak first.

Our next task is to choose a convener. Parliament has agreed that only members of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party are eligible for nomination as convener. I understand that Douglas Ross is the Conservative nominee for convener.

Douglas Ross was chosen as convener.

I thank the witnesses for their answers so far, which have been very helpful. Professor Hayward made a few comments in her opening statement and in her answers about what we should agree to stop doing, such as having three years of exams, the two-term dash and—I am particularly interested in this aspect—national 5 qualifications. What are your views on the retention of those things? If anything was to change, what might an alternative approach look like?

Good afternoon. I thank the witnesses for all their answers so far. My question is about the equality evidence strategy. Do the witnesses feel that the strategy is delivering change at an effective pace? I ask Dr Hosie to start, if she does not mind.

Thanks for your comments so far; they have been really helpful. My question follows on from Pam Gosal’s and is about having a specific outcome on gender inequality. If there was one, what indicators would you want to flow from that? I will go to Catherine Murphy first.

Good morning. Will the bill ensure that the inspectorate is sufficiently independent from the Scottish ministers? I put that to Anne Keenan in the first instance.

Good morning, and thank you for all your answers so far. I direct this question to Gillian Hamilton. How will the greater independence of the inspectorate change its approach? What might that look like?