Equity and Excellence in Education

That the Parliament agrees that there is much to be proud of in Scotland's schools, with children achieving record exam results, fewer young people leaving school with no or few qualifications and record numbers securing positive destinations on leaving school; recognises that Scotland currently sits mid-table in the international rankings for school education; believes therefore that much more needs to be done to make all of Scottish education truly excellent; further believes that tackling inequity by delivering excellence is a key priority for the Scottish Government; acknowledges that, while the Scottish Government is committed to doing all that it can to eradicate poverty and that poverty can be a barrier to attainment, it should not be used as an excuse for failure; welcomes the fact that the Scottish Government has said that all options will be considered and that the evidence of what works will determine future policy, and calls on all involved, including parents, teachers, school leaders, employers and politicians, to play their part in overcoming barriers to delivering an education system that ensures that every child in every community has every chance to succeed at school and in life.