Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive is committedto working with its partners in ensuring that we have the sporting infrastructurein place to make Scotland a truly sporting nation. However, it is for the ownersor operators of the sports facilities to ensure they are maintained to an adequatestandard.

This information is not held centrally.

Such arrangements are agreed between the football clubs and the relevant police authorities.

Since the publication of the National Physical Activity Strategy in 2003, the Executive and its Agencies have commissioned a wide range of research and evaluation studies into physical activity in schools. These include the Physical Activity in Scottish Schoolchildren (PASS) study, the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) in Scotland study, sportscotland’s evaluation of Active Schools and research into the effectiveness of the School Travel Co-ordinator initiative.

In addition, the Physical Activity Strategy’s recommendation of two hours PE per week is being implemented through the PE Review and Scottish Executive Education Department Analytical Services Unit has gathered baseline statistical data from all local authority schools in Scotland on current timetabled PE. The information is being analysed and the data is expected to be available in October 2005.

Research has also been commissioned through Learning Teaching Scotland to take forward policy on physical activity within early years and pre-school and provide guidance on physical activity for children in early years settings, including nurseries, playgroups and childminders.

The Scottish Health Survey is used to monitor overall levels of physical activity in Scotland. The last published data was collected in 1998 and this showed that half of all children (aged 2-<16) in Scotland do less than the minimum needed for health.  The survey was repeated in 2002-03 and the results will tell us whether levels of physical activity have changed since 1998. This new data will be published in November 2005.

The approach we are taking and the excellent progress being made to address the problem of physical inactivity in Scotland has been commended by both UK and international experts in physical activity and health, including the World Health Organisation. Experts from the UK, Australia and Brazil, who participated in a recent physical activity workshop in Scotland, have commented that both nationally and internationally the work on physical inactivity being undertaken by the Scottish Executive is highly regarded and frequently used as an example of ‘best practice’ in this new field of practice.

Four regional seminars were held in March 2005 to raise awareness of the Report of the Review Group on Physical Education. The seminars were held in the Moat House Hotel, Glasgow; the Carlton Hotel, Edinburgh; the Hilton Treetops Hotel, Aberdeen, and the Hilton Hydro, Dunblane. All were well attended by local authorities, schools and others such as the higher education sector and Sportscotland. Notes, powerpoint presentations and evaluations from the seminars can be found at www.ltscotland.org.uk/5to14/features/pereview.asp.

Baseline statistical data for all stages has been gathered from all education authority schools in Scotland on the current level of timetabled PE. The information is being analysed and is expected to be available in October 2005.

The baseline data will be used by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education to monitor implementation of two hours PE as part of their inspection process. A further data gathering exercise planned for 2008 will provide information to assess progress towards delivery of two hours PE to all schoolchildren each week.

In the meantime, a number of actions are being taken forward by the Scottish Executive to provide the support to help schools and local authorities act on the recommendations of the Physical Education Review Group. Teacher training establishments have increased the number of places available for trainee physical education teachers. Extra funding is being provided to support the recruitment of additional teachers from 2006-07 when the first of the additional PE teachers will start to be available. Initial work on the review of PE in the curriculum has begun and is likely to be followed early in 2006 by debate, testing, refinement and consideration of the proposals which emerge. Learning and Teaching Scotland held four regional seminars in March 2005 to raise awareness of the Physical Education Review Group report. I have approved funding to support a small number of pilot projects to inform strategies for delivering two hours of quality PE to every child each week. The projects will be showcased on the Learning and Teaching Scotland website.

The University of Strathclyde has increased the target intake for the postgraduate diploma in education in physical education from 15 in 2003 to 35 for session 2005-06. In addition, both Paisley and Edinburgh universities will offer a postgraduate teacher training course in physical education from 2005 with 12 and 20 places respectively.

In order to produce the 400 additional PE teachers required by the 2008-09 academic session we also intend to open discussion with providers of initial teacher education and continuing professional development to provide additional opportunities for existing teachers to develop PE specialisms.

Table 3.9 of the Statistical Bulletin Teachers in Scotland, 2004 contains information on the number of teachers by main subject taught for 2003 and 2004. The table can be accessed by the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/04/25165316/53393.

Information for 2002 is not available.

This information is not held centrally.

Such arrangements are agreed between the Scottish Rugby Union and the relevant police authority.

This information is not held centrally.

Such arrangements are agreed between the Scottish Football Association and the relevant police authorities.

The National Curriculum Guidelines 5-14 seek to ensure that the curriculum secures breadth, balance, continuity and progression for all pupils. Responsibility for setting policy and legislation for education in Scotland rests with the Scottish Executive Education Department (SEED). The means of delivery is not prescribed in legislation but rather it is the responsibility of local authorities and schools to determine how to implement legislative requirements to meet local needs and circumstances.

However, SEED is fully committed to raising levels of attainment in literacy in Scottish schools. SEED has funded many initiatives including Building Bridges in Literacy P6-S2 under which local authorities have developed 36 projects focusing on literacy including writing skills. SEED also provides funding to local authorities to provide staff development in the teaching of writing.

Inspection evidence demonstrates that writing is valued in Scottish schools. Many education authorities have prioritised the raising of pupils' attainment in writing and have produced structured courses, for example the North Lanarkshire Writing Pack, the South Lanarkshire Writing Pack and New Horizons in Writing from Glasgow City Council. Some of these approaches have been adopted by other education authorities and are well supported by CPD for teachers.

Scotland’s system of National Qualifications also ensures that there are challenging but achievable qualifications in English for candidates of all abilities, from Access 2 to Advanced Higher Level. At all levels these courses develop and extend writing skills, and there are specific creative writing options available in Standard Grade, Intermediate, Higher and Advanced Higher courses.