Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35275 on‎ 3 March 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

PISA sits alongside national sources of data and evidence to allow a holistic view of the Scottish education system and the experiences of young people. The Scottish Government has not set a specific target for improving PISA scores, other than to seek to improve Scotland's performance in the assessment relative to previous assessments and compared to other participating countries.

The PISA 2018 results show that Scotland's score for reading had increased between 2015 and 2018, with a statistically significant improvement. This demonstrates that we are on the right track, making progress where it counts - in the classroom. Our performance in science and maths is in line with the OECD average but this needs to improve. To ensure improvement in STEM, we are taking concerted action through our STEM Education and Training Strategy.

The Scottish Government believes that local authorities and schools are best placed to understand local need and develop bespoke education recovery offerings based on specific circumstances.

We continue to support and enable education recovery work at a local level. To allow young people additional learning opportunities we have worked with partners to develop the e-Sgoil Easter senior phase study support programme, which will be available to all local authority areas in April. This offering will include around 30 subjects beginning on 6 April 2021 and running over two weeks until 16 April. A total of 106 sessions in the first week and half of that in second week. This is additional online study support being made available free to all local schools to access and use for their senior phase pupils. Furthermore, we have committed over £375 million as part of a long-term approach towards education recovery. That funding has contributed to additional teachers, support staff, digital devices and connectivity solutions – all of which can support young people to continue to access quality learning and teaching.

A number of resources have been published and provided to people who are receiving their COVID-19 vaccination. Information on the vaccination can be found on NHS Inform ; this information is also available in British Sign Language (BSL), audio, other languages, Easy Read and large print formats.

It is a matter for each school and local authority in Scotland to plan a Senior Phase curriculum that takes account of local circumstances and meets the needs and aspirations of learners.

The Scottish Government commissioned the OECD to undertake an Independent Review of Scotland’s Curriculum, which would specifically look at depth and breadth of learning in the Senior Phase and local flexibility versus increased prescription – both the issues highlighted in this question. The OECD will be publishing their final report by the end of June 2021 and I will consider their final recommendations at that point.

It is important to note that the Scottish Government, not Education Scotland, is responsible for policy on education. Education Scotland is the national improvement agency for education. Education Scotland’s status as an Executive Agency means that it operates independently and impartially, whilst remaining directly accountable to the Scottish Ministers and parliament for the standards of its work. This status safeguards the independence of inspection, review and reporting within the overall context of the National Performance Framework.

I am giving careful consideration to the issues raised in the debate and the view of parliament in relation to them. The substantial reform of Education Scotland proposed in the motion would represent a major change to the education landscape in Scotland. I do not believe that such policy development should, or indeed could, be taken forward in the short time available ahead of the pre-election period. In the meantime, my focus will instead remain on ensuring that current essential business in Scottish education is progressed and, in particular, on ensuring our response to the pandemic supports the learning, health and wellbeing of our learners and our practitioners.

The publication of any report by the OECD is a matter for the OECD and is not for the Scottish Government to determine. This independent review is being conducted by their own analysts and international experts. Their approach to considering evidence, engaging with stakeholders and the preparation of the report follows the OECD’s tried and tested methodology for assessments like this.

Free school meals are a vital support to thousands of children and young people across the country - ensuring that children are fed and ready to engage in learning. They are also a valued support for family budgets - by providing a saving of approximately £400 per year per child.

This government has shown its support to children and young people in receipt of free school meals through the additional £51 million of funding to local authorities to continue the provision of free school meals during the period of school closures and through the summer, winter and Easter holidays.

We do review the delivery of free school meals to ensure that it is supporting children and young people and expansion of free school meals to additional year groups is one of those considerations as part of this process. Implementation of a policy of this scale would require significant levels of planning, assessment and delivery in conjunction with COSLA and our partners in local authorities. In 2021-22, we will continue to provide £53 million of funding to local authorities for the universal provision of free school meals to every child in primary 1 to primary 3. We will also continue to provide funding to local authorities to deliver free school meals to all eligible children and young people in primary 4 and above.

Model-Based estimates of unemployment levels and rates based on the Annual Population Survey and Claimant Count information are published https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/ . Model-based unemployment estimates are not available below local authority level, and therefore for Arran.

The following table provides the latest model-based unemployment estimates for North Ayrshire local authority in each year since October 2015 – September 2016:

Model-Based Unemployment Levels and Rates, North Ayrshire, 2016 to 2020

We know that Covid is affecting the learning of all children and young people, and we have published an Equity Audit examining the particular impact on children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. This government is also investing £182m in the Scottish Attainment Challenge in‎ 2021-22, including £127m in Pupil Equity Funding to support those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This builds on the £750m investment in the Scottish Attainment Challenge over the course of this Parliament.

Specific funding committed as part of a longer-term programme up to 2021-22 to enable children to catch-up on missed education includes:

• £105m for additional teachers and other support staff
• £90m to help offset the additional costs required to implement protection measures and support safe, open and welcoming schools
• £25m devices & connectivity
• £51m for free school meal alternatives during remote learning and school holidays
• £45m support for schools and families
• £60m education recovery funding to support and accelerate learning recovery