The education inspectorate in Scotland said that variations in the performance of Scotland's schools were 'too great'. Many were making a real difference to their schools: but most were just meeting basic requirements.
Source: Improving Scottish Education: Effectiveness of Education Authorities, HM Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (01506 600200)
Links: Report | COSLA press release | BBC report
Date: 2006-Nov
The Scottish Executive announced an action plan designed to tackle indiscipline in Scottish schools. A linked survey report found that bad behaviour had not increased since a previous survey in 2006.
Source: Press release 2 October 2006, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400) | Anne Wilkin, Helen Moor, Jenny Murfield, Kay Kinder and Fiona Johnson, Behaviour in Scottish Schools, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Links: SE press release | Report
Date: 2006-Oct
An article examined the role of public private partnerships in the Scottish education system. PPPs in education and elsewhere in the public sector were part of a broader attempt by New Labour to present itself as the party of business , in Scotland as well as in England - despite the potential for policy divergence opened up by the devolution process.
Source: Lynne Poole and Gerry Mooney, 'Privatizing education in Scotland? New Labour, modernization and "public" services', Critical Social Policy, Volume 26 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Aug
A review report examined the early years and childcare workforce in Scotland. The Scottish Executive responded by announcing new arrangements for training, career progression, and professional recognition.
Source: National Review of the Early Years and Childcare Workforce: Report and Consultation, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283) | , Investing in Children s Futures: National Review of the Early Years and Childcare Workforce - Scottish Executive response, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop
Links: Review report | SE response | SE press release
Date: 2006-Aug
Researchers in Scotland examined young people's attitudes towards post-compulsory education, and whether a system of learning entitlement would encourage educational re-engagement. Knowledge of the current system of funding for post-compulsory education varied, but was generally poor. Young people who did have some knowledge of the funding system expressed concerns that levels of funding were too low, that uptake would result in loss of benefits, and that the system was confusing and inequitable.
Source: Vicky Hopwood and Alison Hunter, Entitlement to Learning Scoping Study, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Date: 2006-Aug
A report by a committee of MSPs urged the Scottish Executive to ensure that pre-school education in Scotland's most disadvantaged areas benefited from having qualified teaching staff in post.
Source: Early Years, 7th Report 2006, SP Paper 596, Scottish Parliament Education Committee, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SP press release | Childlink report | Children Now report
Date: 2006-Jun
A report said that local authority policies relating to gender equality in Scottish schools were, in the main, couched within a broader approach to social justice and social inclusion - there was a danger that gender became "lost or fudged" within the broader inclusion agenda. Schools and local authorities should give specific attention to the issue in light of forthcoming legislation on equality.
Source: Rae Condie, Alastair McPhee, Christine Forde, Jean Kane and George Head, Review of Strategies to Address Gender Inequalities in Scottish Schools, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Links: Report | Literature review | Summary | BBC report
Date: 2006-May
A report examined a workplace learning scheme in Scotland. It said that the benefits arose from the unique position of unions in accessing and engaging ?hard to reach? learners in the context of a high-trust relationship with members.
Source: Patricia Findlay, Robert Stewart, Eli Dutton and Chris Warhurst, Evaluation of the Scottish Union Learning Fund (SULF) (2000-2005), Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Date: 2006-May
A trade union report said that schools in Scotland urgently needed off-site 'behaviour units' to deal with unruly pupils. Indiscipline over a protracted period of time, even at apparently low levels, could have a devastating effect on the health of individual teachers.
Source: Supporting Teachers, Tackling Indiscipline, Educational Institute of Scotland (0131 225 6244)
Links: Report | EIS press release | TSN press release | BBC report
Date: 2006-May
A briefing paper examined social-class inequalities in educational attainment and participation in England and Scotland. The overall level of inequality, across different levels of attainment, fell slightly in England and remained stable in Scotland between the mid-1980s and the end of the 1990s. In both countries social-class differences in entry to higher education could largely be attributed to class differences in achieving the qualifications for entry. General levels of attainment and participation were higher in Scotland: despite greater inequalities, working-class Scots outperformed their English peers.
Source: David Raffe, Linda Croxford, Cristina Iannelli, Marina Shapira and Cathy Howieson, Social-Class Inequalities in Education in England and Scotland, Special Briefing 40,Centre for Educational Sociology/University of Edinburgh (0131 651 6238)
Links: Briefing
Date: 2006-May
An audit report said that an agreement in Scotland on teachers? duties had brought benefits for the teaching profession: but a lack of performance measures made it difficult to assess the wider impact of the ?2.15 billion investment involved.
Source: A First Stage Review of the Cost and Implementation of the Teachers? Agreement - 'A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century', Audit Scotland for Accounts Commission and Auditor General (0131 477 1234)
Links: Report | Audit Scotland press release | SE press release | COSLA press release | BBC report
Date: 2006-May
A report by a committee of MSPs expressed concern about a growing divide between successful and underachieving pupils in Scotland's schools. It called for work to identify at an earlier age those children likely to become disillusioned with formal education, and practical steps to lighten the assessment and examination load on pupils and teachers.
Source: Pupil Motivation, 3rd Report 2006, SP Paper 537, Scottish Parliament Education Committee, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2006-Apr
A report by a committee of MSPs said that the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Bill was a genuine attempt to introduce a system of greater parental involvement in children's education which was in tune with recent educational developments, yet sufficiently flexible to meet local needs.
Source: Stage 1 Report on Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Bill, 2nd Report 2006, SP Paper 497, Scottish Parliament Education Committee, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SP press release
Date: 2006-Feb
A progress report on the Scottish Executive's school reform programme said that just over a year after 69 reforms were promised in the programme, more than a half had already been delivered.
Source: Ambitious, Excellent Schools: Progress Report, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2006-Feb
A report (based on research in Scotland) said that education policy by itself contributed little to the rate at which people moved between social classes.
Source: Cristina Iannelli and Lindsay Paterson, Education and Social Mobility in Scotland in the 20th Century, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: Summary | ESRC press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Feb
A report called for an overarching review of the children s workforce in Scotland.
Source: Bronwen Cohen and Jim McCormick, Working for the Future: Re-imagining the children's workforce, Scottish Council Foundation (0131 225 4709), Children in Scotland, and International Futures Forum
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Feb
The education inspectorate said that Scotland's educational system stood up well to international comparisons: but it also called for a determined drive to tackle underperformance and raise standards.
Source: Improving Scottish Education, HM Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (01506 600200)
Links: Report | SE press release | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Feb
A paper said that educational attainment levels in Scotland had 'flatlined' since devolution, while those in each of the other United Kingdom nations had improved, particularly England – despite the fact that levels of spending per pupil in Scotland appeared high relative to the others.
Source: Scottish Government Budget Options: Spending on School Education, Centre for Public Policy for Regions/University of Glasgow
Links: Paper | BBC report
Date: 2006-Jan
The education inspectorate in Scotland examined the early years framework, intended to improve the life-chances of Scotland's children and tackle inequalities by targeting the early years. It highlighted cases where effective practice already existed, and the benefits for children, families, and communities that resulted from participation in early intervention and family learning programmes. It also showed the need for better co-ordination of services and resources.
Source: The Early Years Framework: Learning Together – Positive Start, Positive Outcomes, HM Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (01506 600200)
Links: Report | HMIE press release
Date: 2006-Jan
Researchers evaluated the impact of legislation in Scotland (effective from August 2003) which introduced the presumption of mainstreaming in relation to pupils with special educational needs.
Source: Anne Pirrie, George Head and Paul Brna, Mainstreaming Pupils with Special Educational Needs: An evaluation, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Date: 2006-Jan
