Pam Duncan-Glancy

30 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it plans to publish the gender-based violence in schools framework.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We will publish a national gender-based violence framework for schools in the coming weeks. We are working closely with our key stakeholders on the Gender Based Violence in Schools Working Group to ensure that the Framework supports schools in tackling gender…

30 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update national guidance on the recording of inappropriate, abusive or violent behaviour in schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23512 on 19 December 2023. 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-commit…

30 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that the Interim Chief Inspector of Education will publish updated guidance on the evidence that should be gathered as part of school inspections.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: HM Chief Inspector is committed to promoting openness and transparency in the inspection process. Educators and practitioners are kept well-informed about inspections, including the focus areas and methodologies employed by inspection teams. HM Inspectors as…

30 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government from what part of its Budget it has allocated the £900,000 for local authorities to offer support training for staff to tackle post-COVID-19 pandemic challenges in schools, as announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills on 29 November 2023.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The provision of this funding will be allocated from the Education and Skills portfolio.

30 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on its findings from the three summits that it held on violence and behaviour in schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: A summary of discussions at the summits can be found at: Health and wellbeing in schools - Schools - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . The findings from the summit will inform the national action plan which we expect to be published early in the new year.

30 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address any delays in accessing speech and language therapy. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: We recognise the importance of timely access to speech and language therapy. We have increased the flexibility Health Boards have in reducing waiting times, ensuring those with greatest need are seen first, while maximising prevention and early intervention a…

30 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the ministerial statement on behaviour in schools on 29 November 2023, whether it plans to publish an analysis of its engagement with headteachers, as part of its headteacher taskforce on issues surrounding school exclusions, and whether it plans to take any actions as a resu…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Headteacher Taskforce met on 27 June with a focus on school exclusions. Discussions from this meeting informed the development of the approach to the relationships and behaviour summits. Headteachers from the Taskforce also attended the summits where thei…

30 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with local authorities regarding their (a) strategic and (b) implementation plans for improving school attendance, and how it is encouraging any local authorities that do not have a plan in place to develop such a plan.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has published guidance for local authorities and schools, Included, Engaged and Involved Part 1: Promoting and Managing School Attendance , as well as guidance for parents which reinforces the message that they should support childre…

30 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with (a) COSLA and (b) Education Scotland regarding shared practice on monitoring and tracking school attendance.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has published guidance for local authorities and schools – Included, Engaged and Involved Part 1: Promoting and Managing School Attendance – as well as guidance for parents, which reinforces the message that they should support childre…

29 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to measure whether school leavers have achieved their full potential.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government collects and publishes a range of data on school leaver achievement. Summary statistics for attainment and initial leaver destinations’ reports annually on the percentage of school leavers in positive destinations and other destinatio…

29 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its cross-policy working group on transitions for disabled young people last met, and what was discussed.

Answer · Natalie Don: The cross-policy working group last met on 11 October 2023. Members were provided with an update on the National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy, including the engagement on the Statement of Intent, and the work of the Disabled Children and Young People’s …

29 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many (a) disabled people and (b) disability organisations have been involved in the Stepping Up school transitions programme.

Answer · Graeme Dey: a) Enable Works Stepping Up programme, to date, has been delivered in 75 schools across Scotland, achieving a 98% positive destination rate for young people with learning disabilities. In financial year 2022-23, 2,974 young people were supported through the S…

29 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many disabled people have been supported through the Developing the Young Workforce programme since its establishment.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting all young people to achieve their potential through Developing the Young Workforce (DYW). Although no specific data is available on the number of disabled young people supported through DYW, the employer-led …

28 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with independent education providers regarding any presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in the private education estate.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The estates of independent schools are for those building owners to manage, however, the Registrar for Independent Schools wrote to all independent schools on 15 September 2023 to receive assurances that managers were aware if and where RAAC was present in th…

28 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received a response from the UK Government to the letter that it sent on (a) 3, (b) 5 and (c) 15 September 2023 regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government received a response from UK Government on 27 November to the previous correspondence sent by myself. Despite our earlier requests seeking clarification on support available for remediation, the letter made no reference to additional f…

28 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the reported decline in the percentage of probationary teachers moving on to permanent teaching roles between 2016-17 and 2021-22, and what the reason is for this decline.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: It is encouraging that the Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland published on 12 December reported a slight increase in the number of post probationers securing a teaching post in the year following their probation. The Teacher Induction Scheme provides…

28 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work with colleges to explore the provision of childcare services.

Answer · Natalie Don: Operational decisions about the provision of childcare services within Scotland’s colleges are the responsibility of each individual college. Colleges must determine how best to secure their own sustainability, for instance through providing childcare service…

28 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to establish a minimum number of learning hours.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is committed to protecting learning hours in Scottish schools. We are carefully considering the responses to the consultation on learning hours that closed earlier this year. We will publish our analysis of the consultation and engage …

28 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21888 by Jenny Gilruth on 25 October 2023, who it has contracted to deliver the Provision of Education Workforce Modelling and Analysis exercise.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Following a competitive invitation to tender process, a contract for the Education Workforce Modelling and Research work was awarded to WPI Economics on 13 October 2023.

28 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills was invited to attend the November meeting of the Anti-Racism in Education Programme Board, and, if so, whether she attended the meeting.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I was invited to attend the November meeting of the Anti-Racism in Education Programme Board. I did attend, and met with Programme Board members, commending the work they have undertaken to date and reiterating that there is no place for discrimination or pre…

28 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22743 by Jenny Gilruth on 17 November 2023, when it expects to (a) complete and (b) publish its mapping exercise of the existing provision of free school breakfasts.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The work to map existing breakfast provision is expected to be completed in Spring 2024.  

28 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it is doing to support the arts and culture sector in Glasgow.

27 Nov 2023 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that some young people are leaving school struggling to read.

21 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates it will meet its target to recruit 3,500 teachers, in addition to the 1,400 recruited during the COVID-19 pandemic, during the current parliamentary session, and whether it will provide an update on its progress to date.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The 2022 teacher census total was 54,193 teachers, which indicates an increase of 1,946 from the baseline, as measured by the 2019 census. To inform decisions on future education workforce planning I have commissioned an external modelling and research exerc…

21 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any instruction or advice has been given to the Scottish Funding Council to present cost savings for further and higher education in the Budget for 2024-25 compared with that of 2023-24.

Answer · Graeme Dey: In line with the normal budget processes the Scottish Government is engaging regularly with the Scottish Funding Council on preparation for the 2024-25 Budget. This engagement will continue with the Scottish Funding Council and the sector to ensure we put the…

21 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to make any further in-year savings to higher education (a) resource and (b) capital funding allocations for academic year 2023-24 beyond the existing in-year withdrawal of £20 million of resource funding, as announced in May 2023.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Agreed budget savings were announced as part of the Deputy First Minister’s Statement to the Scottish Parliament on 21 November 2023. Further details of savings were included in the ‘Update on 2023-24 In-Year Budget Changes - Letter of 21 November 2023,’ sent…

21 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to higher education resource funding in the Budget for 2024-25, whether £809.2 million will be used as the 2023-24 baseline figure, as published in the Budget for 2023-24.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The published figure for higher education resource funding in the 2023-24 budget was £809.2 million and this will be used as a comparator figure for the 2024-25 Budget announcement.  

15 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken of the number of accreditations awarded to individuals following their completion of the Dyslexia and Inclusive Practice programme in each year since its launch compared with the number of applications received for the programme, and what its conclusions…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Due to the required criteria of gaining a place on the GTCS Professional Recognition Programme for Dyslexia and Inclusive Practice each year has a number of unsuccessful applications. However due to the very high standard of applications for the 2023-24 Cohor…

15 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many accreditations have been issued to individuals following their completion of the Dyslexia and Inclusive Practice programme in cohort 2 (2022-23).

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In the 2022 – 2023 cohort, there have been 25 teachers who have achieved the Dyslexia and Inclusive Practice programme. An award ceremony will be held on 11December 2023 in Stirling at Dyslexia Scotland’s Offices.

13 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that Low Emission Zones do not have any negative impact on disabled people and carers.