Parliamentary questions
Margaret Smith
931 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether students in Scotland could be put at a competitive disadvantage compared with students in England when applying for UK universities if the number of subjects that they can study at S4 is limited.
Answer · Michael Russell: Universities are generally interested in higher level qualifications. The Scottish Government, Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), UCAS, Supporting Professionalism in Admissions (SPA) and other agencies have undertaken a great deal of work to inform univ…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many UCAS points will be attributed to National 5 qualifications and how this will differ from the points attributed to standard grade qualifications.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38150 on 16 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many UCAS points will be attributed to National 4 qualifications and how this will differ from the points attributed to standard grade qualifications.
Answer · Michael Russell: The UCAS Tariff system does not allocate points to qualifications below Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Level 6 i.e. Higher qualifications.</p>
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many subjects the Curriculum for Excellence Stakeholder Group considers pupils should expect to be examined for in S4 under the new national qualifications system.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Curriculum for Excellence Stakeholder Group has not expressed any expectation in relation to the number of subjects it considers should be examined for in S4.</p> <p >The precise number and range of qualifications on offer, as well as when they are taken…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many subjects the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board considers pupils should expect to be examined for in S4 under the new national qualifications system.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Curriculum for Excellence Management Board has agreed the general approach to curriculum structures set out in <i >Building the Curriculum 3: a framework for learning and teaching</i>, and subsequent guidance on the senior phase.</p> <p >The precise numb…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the teaching unions regarding the number of subjects that pupils (a) can and (b) should be examined for in S4 under the new national qualifications system.
Answer · Michael Russell: A number of teaching unions are represented on the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board that has agreed the general approach to curriculum structures set out in <i >Building the Curriculum 3: a framework for learning and teaching</i>, and subsequent gui…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with COSLA regarding the number of subjects that pupils (a) can and (b) should be examined for in S4 under the new national qualifications system.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has not discussed this issue with COSLA. However, the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board (on which the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES) and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) repres…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to give advice to schools and local authorities regarding the number of subjects that it expects pupils to be examined for in S4 under the new national qualifications system and, if so, what advice.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38136 on 16 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has given schools and local authorities regarding the number of subjects that it expects pupils to be examined for in S4 under the new national qualifications system.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38136 on 16 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to gather feedback from schools and local authorities regarding the number of subjects that they will allow pupils to be examined for in S4 under the new national qualifications system and, if so, when it will make this feedback public.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38142 on 16 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what feedback it has received from schools and local authorities regarding the number of subjects that they will allow pupils to be examined for in S4 under the new national qualifications system.
Answer · Michael Russell: As is currently the case, schools and local authorities are not required to inform the Scottish Government of their plans for delivery of qualifications.</p> <p >The precise number and range of qualifications on offer, as well as when they are taken, will be…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with schools and local authorities regarding the number of subjects that it expects pupils to be examined for in S4 under the new national qualifications system.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38136 on 16 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p >http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Ap…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice the Scottish Qualifications Authority has given schools and local authorities regarding the number of subjects that it expects pupils to be examined for in S4 under the new national qualifications system.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is responsible for the awarding of qualifications. While it works closely with local authorities and schools around delivery of the qualifications, specific advice to local authorities on the number of subjects that…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Qualifications Authority regarding the number of subjects that it expects pupils to be examined for in S4 under the new national qualifications system.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38140 on 16 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p >http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Ap…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances it considers that pupils can be examined in fewer than eight subjects in S4 under the new national qualifications system.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38136 on 16 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busin…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that pupils can be examined for eight subjects in S4 under the new national qualifications system.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38136 on 16 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busin…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many subjects it expects pupils to be examined for in S4 under the new national qualifications system.
Answer · Michael Russell: There are no national prescriptions for the number of subjects pupils should be examined for in S4. The precise number and range of qualifications on offer, as well as when they are taken, will be a decision for schools to take in consultation with learners a…
18 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether further information will be published regarding the details of the new national qualifications prior to the publication of the National 4 and National 5 exams in 2012 and, if so, what information and when it will be made available.
Answer · Michael Russell: Further information regarding the details of the new National 4 and National 5 qualifications will be published on the Scottish Qualifications Authority''s website to the following timelines:</p> <p >January 2011 - draft rationale and course summaries</p> …
18 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in how many primary 3 classes team teaching is used, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Michael Russell: The available information on the number of primary 3 single stage classes taught by two or more teachers in September 2010 is given in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td width=143 valign=bottom > <p align…
18 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in how many primary 2 classes team teaching is used, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Michael Russell: The available information on the number of primary 2 single stage classes taught by two or more teachers in September 2010 is given in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td width=156 valign=top > <p align=ce…
18 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in how many primary 1 classes team teaching is used, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Michael Russell: The available information on the number of primary 1 single stage classes taught by two or more teachers in September 2010 is given in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=160 valign=bottom > …
18 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there will be a need for Curriculum for Excellence-specific continuing professional development days in each year until all the national qualifications have been rolled out.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37654 on 6 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
18 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Curriculum for Excellence-specific continuing professional development days it has planned for (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15 and (e) 2015-16.
Answer · Michael Russell: At present, the Scottish Government has no plans to offer local authorities the facility to provide further additional in-service days. We expect that local authorities will work with their schools and teachers to make best use of the five standard in-service…
18 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Curriculum for Excellence-specific continuing professional development days it has planned from January to August 2011 and whether it will provide any additional funding for these days.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government wrote to local authorities on 14 June 2010 offering them the opportunity to provide an additional in-service day in the 2010-11 school year to ensure that practitioners are fully supported as Curriculum for Excellence is implemented ac…
18 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools are waiting for assistance from HM Inspectorate of Education with implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence.
Answer · Michael Russell: Plans are in place to assist 57 individual schools and a further 32 groups of staff drawn from different schools between 26 November and 18 December 2010.</p> <p >It is anticipated that all requests to HM Inspectorate of Education from local authorities for…
18 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools HM Inspectorate of Education has assisted with implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence since the beginning of August 2010.
Answer · Michael Russell: Between 1 August and 25 November 2010, HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) will have assisted 119 schools in its implementation of Curriculum for Excellence through visits to these individual schools. In addition, HMIE will have provided assistance to a wider…
18 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times it has sought feedback from HM Inspectorate of Education regarding the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence in schools since August 2010 and what the nature of any such feedback has been.
Answer · Michael Russell: Her Majesty''s Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) has established a project board to lead its Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) support programme to every local authority, as part of the CfE 10-Point Plan. The work is scheduled from August to December 2010 and in…
18 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which teaching unions it has contacted since August 2010 to monitor the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and how many times it has contacted each of these unions.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has regular contact with all the teaching unions and other stakeholders to discuss matters of mutual interest, including the Curriculum for Excellence. We do not routinely count the number of times we make contact nor do we make availa…
18 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which teaching unions it has met since August 2010, apart from at meetings of the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Management Board, to monitor the implementation of the CfE and how many such meeting have taken place.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government meets regularly with all the teaching organisations to discuss matters of mutual interest, including Curriculum for Excellence.</p> <p >Since August 2010, I have met with School Leaders Scotland (SLS) on 6 October, the Educational Ins…
18 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools it has met since August 2010 to monitor the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and how many times it has met each of these schools.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37644 on 2 December 2010 All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…