Schools - prescribing the minimum annual number of learning hours: consultation analysis

Appendix A: Surveys conducted by respondents

Four respondents cited findings from surveys they conducted as part of their evidence gathering. This Appendix provides an overview of each survey and the results they recorded.

The National Parent Forum of Scotland

A survey form was developed and google and shared with parents and carers via NPFS Social Media Channels and Mailchimp mailing list. 157 responses were received from 24 Local Authority Areas.

Question 1: Should the Scottish Government set in law the minimum learning hours pupils in Scotland should receive?

Yes 69%, No 17%, Not sure 14%

Question 2: Do you agree that the minimum annual learning hours should be 950 hours for primary schools?

Yes 59%, No 21%, Not sure 20%

Question 3: Do you agree that the minimum annual learning hours should be 1045 hours for secondary schools?

Yes 63%, No 17%, Not sure 20%

CLD Standards Council Scotland

Survey of CLD Standards Council members; no details about method or sample size were provided.

Question 1: Should the Scottish Government set in law the minimum learning hours pupils in Scotland should receive?

Yes 77.5%, No 22.5%

Question 2: Do you agree that the minimum annual learning hours should be 950 hours for primary schools?

Yes 55%, No 22.5%, Maybe 22.5%

Question 3: Do you agree that the minimum annual learning hours should be 1045 hours for secondary schools?

Yes 44.5%, No 22.5%, Maybe 33%

Question 4: Do you agree with the suggested definition of learning hours set out at paragraph 2.1 in the consultation paper?

Yes 55%, No 22.5%, Maybe 22.5%

Connect

The survey ran from 5 May to 5 June with 243 responses from across 31 local authorities.

Should the Scottish Government set in law the minimum learning hours pupils in Scotland should receive within the school day?

Yes 68%, No 17%, Not Sure 15%

The consultation proposes that primary school pupils should receive 950 learning hours a year, which would average five hours a day across 190 days a year. Do you agree with these minimum annual learning hours for primary schools?

Yes 70%, No 23%, Not Sure 7%

For secondary pupils, they should receive 1045 learning hours a year, which would average five and a half hours a day across 190 days a year. Do you agree with these minimum annual learning hours for secondary schools?

Yes 69%, No 22%, Not Sure 10%

The learning hours proposal would allow for circumstances when local authorities may provide fewer than the minimum number of hours. Do you agree with these exceptions?

Where the pupil's wellbeing would be adversely affected: Yes 64%, No 26%, Not Sure 10%

Where matters outwith the authority's control make it impracticable to make the prescribed hours

Yes 45%, No 33%, Not Sure 21%

Where other circumstances that Ministers may prescribe by regulations apply Yes 33%, No 36%, Not Sure 31%

Pedagogy, Praxis and Faith Research and Teaching Group, School of Education, University of Glasgow

14 members of departmental staff responded to an online survey.

Question 1: Should the Scottish Government set in law the minimum learning hours pupils in Scotland should receive?

The majority of staff answered No

Question 2: Do you agree that the minimum annual learning hours should be 950 hours for primary schools?

The results to this question were split with no clear majority.

Question 3: Do you agree that the minimum annual learning hours should be 1045 hours for secondary schools?

‘No’ received the majority support.

Question 4: Do you agree with the suggested definition of learning hours set out at paragraph 2.1 in the consultation paper?

An overwhelming majority of staff agreed with the suggested definition of learning hours. However, some staff raised concerns about whether the definition was sufficient.