Chamber and committees

Do they really amount to that difference?

I suppose that Fiona Robertson was setting out that there is a tension. There are tensions throughout this—I get that—but there is a tension between the choice for those people who will go down a particular path and the choice for others. A choice might have to be made as to whose interests are put first. Ultimately, this is about the timetable: can we get it to work? We are reducing teacher contact time, and extra elements will be brought into the timetable. Have you modelled that? I know that you are still at the high principle level, but have you modelled it to see how it would look and what the compromises would be?

Okay. Thank you.

You will have received communications and letters similar to the ones that I have received from primary school teachers who gave up other careers or have been really passionate about teaching young people and have had their dreams torn away from them. Some can only get a series of short-term contracts—in some cases, for up to six years—and others cannot find a job at all. We have not got it right just now, have we? I get that it is a difficult balancing act and that the situation goes in cycles, but it is particularly bad just now, is it not?

My question is in the same light; it is about advanced highers in disadvantaged areas. Are we on top of why there is less of an offer in schools in those areas? What can be done about that to improve the situation, given that it has not improved in recent years?

This is probably the most critical that I have heard you be of the Government. I can tell that there is frustration that there is a lack of clarity, which you talked about in terms of employment but also in terms of clarity on the function. I would like to hear your view on whether you think the Hayward review is headed in the right direction. I noticed that your chairman at the time said:

“we must ensure change can be delivered successfully”.

There was a hint that perhaps the current direction of travel was in danger of not pursuing that successfully. I would be interested in hearing your view on that.

I will not ask any more questions. The fact that you have given a long list is an indication of your anxiety. That sends a clear message to the Government about the process of reform.

Michelle Thomson has already covered the impact of structural reform and the delay, but can you tell me whether you have lost good people from the organisation as a result of that further delay?

That is really interesting—and quite disappointing in many ways. Did ministers respond to your pleas for some certainty about redundancies?

How long did that take?