Parliamentary questions
Margaret Smith
931 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence and discussions there have been between it and the Scottish Parent Teacher Council since 1 January 2010 regarding school reform and when details of these exchanges will be made available.
Answer · Michael Russell: No such specific discussions have taken place.</p>
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence and discussions there have been between it and School Leaders Scotland since 1 January 2010 regarding school reform and when details of these exchanges will be made available.
Answer · Michael Russell: No such specific discussions have taken place.</p>
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence and discussions there have been between it and the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association since 1 January 2010 regarding school reform and when details of these exchanges will be made available.
Answer · Michael Russell: No such specific discussions have taken place.</p>
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence and discussions there have been between it and the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) regarding school reform since 1 January 2010 and when details of these exchanges will be made available.
Answer · Michael Russell: No such specific discussions have taken place. </p>
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence and discussions there have been between it and East Lothian Council regarding the council’s recent proposals for school reform and when details of these exchanges will be made available.
Answer · Michael Russell: There have been several informal discussions with representatives of East Lothian Council regarding their proposals for school reform. We do not routinely make available the details of private discussions with stakeholders. </p>
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Association of Directors of Education since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence regarding the development and implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and when the details of these discussions will be made ava…
Answer · Michael Russell: The Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES) is represented on the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board. The last meeting of the board was on 22 April 2010 at which ADES agreed the advice to the Cabinet Secretary that there should be no …
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Association of Head Teachers and Deputes in Scotland since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence regarding the development and implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and when the details of these discussions w…
Answer · Michael Russell: The Association of Head Teachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS) is represented on the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board. The last meeting of the board was on 22 April 2010 at which AHDS agreed the advice to the Cabinet Secretary that there should be …
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence regarding the development and implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and when the details of these discussions will be made a…
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government regularly engages with the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA) and other stakeholders to discuss matters of mutual interest. Since the announcement of the 10 point plan for Curriculum for Excellence we have held two discussi…
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Parent Teacher Council since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence regarding the development and implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and when the details of these discussions will be made available.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government meets regularly with a range of parent bodies, including the Scottish Parent Teacher Council (SPTC) on the development and implementation of Curriculum for Excellence.</p> <p >The SPTC was one of several bodies attending a meeting wit…
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with School Leaders Scotland since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence regarding the development and implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence, and when the details of these discussions will be made available.
Answer · Michael Russell: School Leaders Scotland (SLS) is represented on the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board. The last meeting of the board was on 22 April 2010 at which SLS agreed the advice to the Cabinet Secretary that there should be no delay to the timetable of the Cu…
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what comments it has received from teachers since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence on the materials produced by Learning and Teaching Scotland for the Curriculum for Excellence.
Answer · Michael Russell: We have not formally received any comments from individual teachers on the materials for the delivery of Curriculum for Excellence which Learning and Teaching Scotland have provided since 30 March 2010.</p> <p >LTS is engaging with practitioners to assess th…
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the next update will be given regarding the development of the new national qualifications.
Answer · Michael Russell: SQA published on its website the design principles for the new National 4 and National 5 qualifications on 30 March 2010. The website will shortly carry progress reports on development of the qualifications across the eight curriculum areas. Full reports and …
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to work with the Educational Institute for Scotland (EIS) on how to build teachers’ confidence in the Curriculum for Excellence; what actions will be taken as a result of this work, and when the details will be made available.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33809 on 2 June 2010.</p> <p >In addition, the Scottish Government has worked in close partnership with EIS and others on the implementation programme for Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) through the CfE Manag…
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the results of its research into employers’ current awareness of the Curriculum for Excellence will be published.
Answer · Michael Russell: Research is underway to gain insights employers'' communication needs in relation to Curriculum for Excellence and to assist in the development of relevant communications for employers. The findings will be reported to the Scottish Government in July.</p>
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what matters were discussed at its meeting of 29 April 2010 with the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS); what agreements were reached regarding how to move forward with the Curriculum for Excellence; what other meetings it has since had with the EIS, and what was discussed.
Answer · Michael Russell: I met with the EIS Executive on 29 April 2010 and 13 May 2010. We held positive and constructive discussions on taking forward the implementation of curriculum for excellence and our progress on the 10-point plan. I meet regularly with the EIS Executive and t…
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to establish a stakeholder group to advise on the future development of the Curriculum for Excellence since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence and, if this has been established, how many times it has met; what stakeholders are …
Answer · Michael Russell: Following the issue of written invitations to the stakeholder group its first meeting took place on 2 June. No further meetings have taken place. We do not routinely make available the details of private discussions with stakeholders.</p> <p >Representation …
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the announcement of the Curriculum for Excellence 10-point plan to involve the National Parent Forum Scotland and pupil councils in improving Curriculum for Excellence communication.
Answer · Michael Russell: The National Parent Forum Scotland (NPFS) is now represented on the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board and a NPFS representative attended the management board meeting on 22 April 2010.</p> <p >Several of the forum members have been involved in a rang…
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a member of the National Parent Forum Scotland has been appointed to the Curriculum for Excellence management board, as committed as part of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence, and, if not, when this will be actioned.
Answer · Michael Russell: Mr Gerry McTiernan, Vice-Chair of the National Parent Forum Scotland, is now a member of the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board and attended the meeting of the board held on 22 April 2010.</p>
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many excellence groups have been established since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence; what actions each of these groups has taken; how many (a) local authorities and (b) schools each has worked with, and what feedback the Scottish Government has r…
Answer · Michael Russell: Eighteen excellence groups have been established which cover 15 subject areas, health and wellbeing together with two thematic groups on higher order skills and on head teacher''s role in implementing Curriculum for Excellence. The arrangements for some group…
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to build literacy and numeracy units into English and maths qualifications since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence and when the details of these qualifications will be made available.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33097 on 28 April 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/…
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have developed systems to check for consistent assessment of pupils under the Curriculum for Excellence since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence.
Answer · Michael Russell: All local authorities are responsible for implementing their approaches to assessment of pupils as outlined in <i >Building the Curriculum 5: The Framework for Assessment.</i> The key principles of the quality assurance and moderation approaches in assessment…
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have (a) requested and (b) received a share of the £3 million to support Curriculum for Excellence quality assurance and moderation of assessment, as committed as part of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence, and how much of this funding remains t…
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is in discussion with COSLA to agree a distribution allocation to local authorities for the share of the £3 million funding. COSLA expects to be in a position to make firm proposals on distribution by the end of June. We would then see…
21 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools have (a) requested and (b) received additional practice materials for the Curriculum for Excellence, as committed as part of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence, and whether any further materials will be provided.
Answer · Michael Russell: Detailed preparations are still underway. A plan for support will be agreed between HM Inspectorate of Education and the individual local authorities by the end of June. Within this, much work will take place with groups of schools and local authority level, …
29 Apr 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what decisions have been made regarding the implementation timetable of the Curriculum for Excellence and new qualifications.
Answer · Michael Russell: I have accepted the unanimous advice from the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board that the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence programme by August 2010 is realistic and achievable.</p> <p >The Education Institute of Scotland alone favoured…
7 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there are sufficient numbers of teachers to allow for flexibility in training and continuing professional development for the Curriculum for Excellence.
Answer · Michael Russell: Yes. Figures published as part of the Teacher Census in 2009 confirm that pupil to teacher ratios in publicly-funded schools remain close to their lowest ever levels in Scotland.</p> <p >In addition to the existing provisions for continuing professional deve…
7 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role Learning and Teaching Scotland is playing in the development of the new national qualifications.
Answer · Michael Russell: As a national educational delivery partner, Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) is represented on the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board. LTS is also represented on SQA''s Curriculum Areas Review Groups and Qualification Design Teams. LTS will also d…
7 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will develop an action plan specific to the development and implementation of the new national qualifications.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is leading the development of the new qualifications, which are fully integrated into the overall Curriculum for Excellence Programme Plan. A schedule of all key milestones within the plan, including those related t…
7 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which of the Curriculum for Excellence 10-point plan action points will be continued after August 2010 and for how long.
Answer · Michael Russell: I will seek the advice of Curriculum for Excellence Management Board on the need for the continuation of any actions from the 10-point plan in order to assist with the ongoing delivery of Curriculum for Excellence.</p>
7 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to facilitate remote learning under the Curriculum for Excellence in order to provide choice of courses and learning.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government funds Glow, the world''s first national education platform that provides a powerful set of integrated tools, applications, learning resources and access to CPD opportunities.</p> <p >This secure and personalised collaborative learnin…
7 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role Learning and Teaching Scotland will play in actioning the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence.
Answer · Michael Russell: Learning and Teaching Scotland''s (LTS) core remit covers the production of relevant materials to support delivery of Curriculum for Excellence. This is an ongoing process, which will include support for the 10-point action plan.</p> <p >On 20 April 2010 LTS…