Proposals by the Scottish Government to scrap graduate endowment fees were rejected by the Scottish Parliament's education committee.
Source: Stage 1 Report on the Graduate Endowment Abolition (Scotland) Bill, SP Paper 37, Scottish Parliament Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SP press release | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2007-Dec
The education inspectorate in Scotland examined the relationship between the quality of provision offered to young children and the qualifications and training of those adults working with them. It identified the importance of high-level qualifications and training in early education for effective leadership skills and the delivery of quality provision for children.
Source: The Key Role of Staff in Providing Quality Pre-school Education, HM Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (01506 600200)
Links: Report | HMIE press release
Date: 2007-Nov
The education inspectorate in Scotland examined the way in which additional support was delivered to children and young people with special educational needs. Education authorities and schools had taken significant steps towards ensuring that all children and young people receive a more personalized education aimed at maximizing success for all. But the report expressed concern that different interpretations of the legislation across authorities could lead to inconsistencies.
Source: Report on the Implementation of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, HM Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (01506 600200)
Links: Report | HMIE press release
Date: 2007-Nov
The Scottish Government published a Bill to scrap the graduate endowment fee (a one-off payment on successful completion of a higher education course of three years or more, introduced for Scottish-domiciled students and European Union students entering a Scottish university from 2001-02).
Source: Graduate Endowment Abolition (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Government, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | Policy memorandum | SG press release | Consultation responses | SP press release | BBC report | Scotsman report
Date: 2007-Oct
The education inspectorate in Scotland said that there was too much variation in the overall performance of authorities and their partners in community learning and development; and also variation in performance within national priorities.
Source: Making a Difference in Scotland's Communities: A five year review of community learning and development in Scotland, HM Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (01506 600200)
Links: Report | HMIE press release
Date: 2007-Sep
A study examined the awareness and experience of the education maintenance allowance among young people in Scotland. Awareness and understanding was poor among those aged 14-15. The majority of EMA recipients had planned to stay on at school, regardless of the financial allowance.
Source: York Consulting LLP, Young People?s Awareness and Experience of Educational Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) and Their Impact on Choices and Pathways, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jul
The education inspectorate in Scotland said that up to a fifth of Scotland's schools and colleges were poorly led.
Source: Leadership for Learning: The challenges of leading in a time of change, HM Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (01506 600200)
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jun
Researchers found that young people in Scotland were more likely to go on to college and university than in England or Wales.
Source: Press release 19 June 2007, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: ESRC press release | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Jun
The Scottish Executive announced plans to scrap the graduate endowment fee with immediate effect, saving new graduates over £2,000. It said that the policy had failed graduates and their families by burdening them with excessive debt; failed the most vulnerable young people by creating financial barriers to accessing higher education; and failed the Scottish taxpayer by not raising the levels of income initially projected.
Source: Press release 13 June 2007, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: SE press release | NUS press release | Guardian report | FT report
Date: 2007-Jun
The sex equality watchdog in Scotland said that the full extent and nature of the work done by classroom assistants were unrecognized and undervalued.
Source: Valuable Assets: A general formal investigation into the role and status of classroom assistants in Scottish schools - final report, Equal Opportunities Commission Scotland (0845 601 5904)
Links: Report | Summary | EOC press release
Date: 2007-May
The education inspectorate in Scotland said that reforms aimed at modernizing the teaching profession had resulted in reduced class contact time, new career structures, better professional development, and new management structures. The range and quality of support staff had improved, and classroom assistants were playing an increasingly positive role. But widespread impact on children's learning remained to be fully achieved.
Source: Teaching Scotland?s Children: A report on progress in implementing ?A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century?, HM Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (01506 600200)
Links: Report | SE press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jan
