Pam Duncan-Glancy

14 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide assurances that Strengthening Communities Programme funding will be released without any further delay.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Every action is being taken to facilitate an early decision on this funding, following which officials will be in contact with stakeholders.

14 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to provide funding to the Strengthening Communities Programme beyond 31 March 2025.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Budget confirmed that the financial outlook for 2024-25 across Government is particularly challenging with future prospects continuing to be volatile. As such, the 2024-25 budget is a single year spending plan and no decisions have been made in r…

14 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reportedly not released the 2024 Strengthening Communities Programme funding to Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS).

Answer · Tom Arthur: Within the context of the challenging budget position for 2024-25, achieving a balanced budget requires difficult decisions and robust spending control. Discussions are ongoing to work through priorities and finalise funding allocations within budget lines, i…

13 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its Programme for Government 2021-22 commitment, whether it still plans to recruit 3,500 teachers and 500 classroom assistants, over and above the 1,400 teachers recruited during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We remain committed to sustained investment to strengthen provision of education in Scotland and we are offering local authorities £145.5m in this year’s budget to protect teacher numbers. The commitment to increase the number of classroom assistants has alr…

3 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering reviewing the funding model for Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) in order to provide greater certainty.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government remains committed to Developing the Young Workforce (DYW), with funding of £12.9 million invested in 2024-25 to fund Regional Groups and School Coordinators. We will continue to work with the network to explore options for the future i…

1 May 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what measures it is putting in place to reduce waiting times for access to CAMHS.

29 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered providing the Good Governance Steering Group, whose mandate is currently advisory, with decision-making powers.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-27115 on 8 May 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/w…

29 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Good Governance Steering Group reportedly has no decision-making powers.

Answer · Graeme Dey: At its inception, the Good Governance Steering Group agreed to be an advisory body with no executive powers. The Scottish Government is represented on the group and the group regularly reviews its remit. To date, no approach has been made to the Scottish Go…

29 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the current scope of the Good Governance Steering Group’s terms of reference is sufficient for influencing decisions made in the college sector.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The remit of the Good Governance Steering Group is regularly reviewed in collaboration with sector partners represented on the group. At its inception, the group agreed it would be an advisory body. The group is authorised by the Scottish Government to invest…

29 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that any trade union representatives elected to a college board of management are given sufficient remission from their day job in order to undertake any responsibilities relating to their participation in board business.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Facility time for trade union officials is key to ensuring trade unions can effectively represent members and reflect the staff voice in college decision making. However, remission in order to undertake trade union duties is an operational matter for individu…

29 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last reviewed the Good Governance Steering Group’s terms of reference.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The remit of the Good Governance Steering Group was reviewed at its last meeting on 2 May 2024. This was done in partnership with the group, which includes Scottish Government representation.  

29 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many recommendations of the Good Governance Steering Group have been implemented since its inception.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government has implemented the following recommendations since the Good Governance Steering Group’s inception in 2015: Recommendation Status College Development Network to imbed teamwork training within the induction training of board members.…

25 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Strategic Board for Teacher Education last met, and what was discussed.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Strategic Board for Teacher Education last met on 21 March, to discuss progress against the three workstreams contained in the Board’s workplan. These are:-Workstream 1 – Workforce Planning and Increasing Diversity of the ProfessionWorkstream 2 – Improvi…

25 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26786 by Jenny Gilruth on 25 April 2024, what its position is on Glasgow City Council's reported plan to substantially reduce the number of teacher posts.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has a longstanding commitment to protecting teacher numbers, and we are offering local authorities £145.5m in this year’s budget for that purpose. This funding will allow councils to protect teacher numbers in order to support children…

23 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it discussed in its meetings with Glasgow City Council on (a) 19 and (b) 27 February 2024 regarding teacher numbers, and whether a minute of each meeting exists.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government did not meet with Glasgow City Council on the 19 or 27 of February.

15 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to the development of a modern apprenticeship and graduate apprenticeship framework for the games industry.

Answer · Graeme Dey: There are multiple existing Modern and Graduate Apprenticeship frameworks that include software design and IT Management which are utilised by the gaming industry. The frameworks are flexible with varying pathways and are adaptable to any industry that design…

10 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role mentors provided by MCR Pathways play in improving outcomes for children and young people, including pupils from a care setting.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government recognise the important role programmes like MCR Pathways can play in supporting young people. Mentors, who are volunteers from local communities, can support young people, including care-experienced young people, towards better outco…

10 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the importance of MCR Pathways coordinators in delivering the MCR mentoring programme in schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We recognise the important role that programmes like MCR Pathways can play in supporting young people towards positive outcomes. Coordinators, who are often employed directly by local authorities, play an important role within the MCR Pathways programme, incl…

8 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to address the reported failure to reach target student teacher intake numbers in 19 out of 20 subjects.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: This relates to indicative figures provided by universities at the start of the academic session. The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) will publish the 2023-24 academic year Official Statistics data in 2025. These will provide the most accurate figur…

8 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of recent reports that its student teacher intake target was missed in 19 out of 20 subjects, and that 10 out of 20 subjects were unable to attract 50% of their target numbers.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: This relates to indicative figures provided by universities at the start of the academic session. The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) will publish the 2023-24 academic year Official Statistics data in 2025. These will provide the most accurate figur…

8 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns that, in 2023, the number of teachers in permanent, full-time employment fell to its lowest level since 2012, while the school role increased.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Over the past 10 years the number of teachers in permanent posts has remained stable at over 80%, and since 2014 the number of school teachers in post has increased by 8%, from 49,521 to 53,331 in 2023. Our overall teacher ratio is the lowest in the UK at 13.…

8 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the reported fall in the number of secondary school teachers in (a) computing studies, (b) ASN: behavioural support, (c) maths, (d) technical education, (e) religious education, (f) geography, (g) German, (h) physics, (i) home economics and (j) English …

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Since 2019 the number of teachers in Scottish schools has increased from 52,247 to 54,033 and the pupil teacher ratio has improved from 13.6 to 13.2. Local authorities are responsible for the recruitment and deployment of teaching staff, and the Scottish Gov…

8 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the reported failure to recruit target numbers of student teachers in languages.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: This relates to indicative figures provided by universities at the start of the academic session. The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) will publish the 2023-24 academic year Official Statistics data in 2025. These will provide the most accurate figur…

8 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the reported fall in the number of French teachers of 43% between 2008 and 2023.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Since 2019 the number of teachers in Scottish schools has increased from 52,247 to 54,033 and the pupil teacher ratio has improved from 13.6 to 13.2. Local authorities are responsible for the recruitment and deployment of teaching staff, and the Scottish Gov…

8 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to the Into Headship programme in each of the last five years.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government allocated grant funding to Higher Education Institutions to deliver the Into Headship programme, as outlined in the following table:  2019-2020 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 Scottish Government Funding for the Into Headship Pro…

8 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the possible removal of the requirement for headteachers to undertake the Into Headship programme, and whether it will set out any conclusions arising from any such discussions.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has no plans to remove the requirement for headteachers to hold the Standard for Headship.

8 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its consideration of combining the workstreams of the Strategic Board for Teacher Education and the Headteacher Recruitment and Retention working group.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Strategic Board for Education (SBTE) is considering issues around the recruitment and retention of teachers in Scotland in detail, including tackling geographical and subject-specific challenges. SBTE is also working to improve the promotion of teaching a…

8 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address concerns raised at the meeting of the National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy External Strategic Working Group on 29 February 2024 that "families are struggling to secure a social worker and, in turn, access support for transitions".

Answer · Natalie Don: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the experience of the social work workforce to ensure it is more sustainable in the longer term. Whilst the social work workforce is primarily employed by local authorities who have a statutory duty to maint…

8 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reduced the average spending per pupil with additional support needs by £1,934 since 2012-13.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: All children and young people should receive the support that they need to reach their full potential. Local authorities are under a statutory duty to identify, provide for, and review the additional support needs of their pupils. Spending on additional supp…

2 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has to amend the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 to reduce or amend the distances from home to school before free school transport is provided.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Section 42(4) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 states the statutory walking distances are two miles for children aged under eight, and three miles for children aged eight or over. Any changes to these distances would need to be via primary legislation and…