Ministerial Group minutes - May 2024

Attendees and apologies

Attendees:

• Jenny Gilruth MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
• Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education and Minister for Veterans
• Councillor Tony Buchanan, COSLA Spokesperson for Children and Young People
• Professor Graham Donaldson, Honorary Professor (School of Education), The University of Glasgow
• Margaret Farragher, CEO, Joint Council for Qualifications
• Douglas Hutchison, Executive Director Education, Glasgow City Council
• Alison Murison, Aberdeen Grammar School
• Brenda McLachlan, Stonelaw High School, South Lanarkshire
• Grahame Smith, Chair of Careers Collaborative and former GS STUC
• Professor John McKendrick, Professor, School for Business and Society Glasgow Caledonian University, Commissioner for Fair Access
• Sir Paul Grice, Vice Convener of Universities Scotland and Principal of Queen Margaret University
• Liz Connolly, Principal and Chief Executive, West College Scotland
• Clare Hicks, Director of Education Reform
• Adam Reid, Deputy Director of Lifelong Learning and Skills

Apologies:

• Shirley Laing, Director of Lifelong Learning and Skills

Secretariat:

• Pauline Hendry, Education Reform Programme Management Office
• Rachel Elder, Education Reform Programme Management Office

Items and actions

Welcome and apologies

The Chair welcomed members to the first meeting of the Ministerial Group and noted apologies.

Purpose and remit of the group

The Cabinet Secretary expressed how pleased she is to be chairing the Ministerial Group, explaining that it has been drawn together from a range of experts across the education and skills system to provide a forum to share and test thinking on reform.

It will also provide an opportunity for her to directly engage across the education and skills landscape to update on progress and seek support to inform and aid implementation.

A new governance structure is in place, bringing together reform across education and skills, with the Ministerial Group providing a vital role in the structure. Two interlinked Programme Boards, one focusing on school-age commitments and the other on post-school education and skills, will report via a Portfolio Group to Ministers. The Boards are working closely together on a shared critical pathway and sequencing of overarching commitments.

The Education Reform Programme Board is overseeing plans to replace the SQA with a new qualifications body, to refocus Education Scotland as the national education agency and a separate independent office holder of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education, as well as plans to establish a new Centre for Teaching Excellence.

The focus of the Post-School Education and Skills Reform Programme Board is on improving and reforming the post-school learning and skills system in the light of James Withers’ review of the skills landscape and Scottish Government’s own report on Post-school education, research and skill – Purpose and Principles.

Members were asked if they agree to the terms of reference, which was issued with the agenda. A point was raised regarding the protocol of sharing papers and information arising from the group. A request was noted for clarity around the degree of confidentiality of papers.

No further questions were posed and the Chair accepted tacit agreement.

Overview of Education and Skills Reform

The Chair noted key areas of progress since she asked for a review of the Education Reform Programme after taking up post last year:

• a Bill to establish a new qualifications body and inspectorate will be introduced this Parliamentary year
• work is progressing through a co-production group to establish a Centre for Teaching Excellence; as is work on the national agency
• Shirley Rogers was appointed as Chair of the SQA, while Janie McManus was appointed Interim HM Chief Inspector
• the Scottish Government will be responding to the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment in the coming weeks

Mr Dey noted progress in the Post-School and Skills Reform area, following publication of the Withers Review and the Scottish Government’s own Purpose and Principles report:

• foundations are being laid for a new national approach to skills planning and the strengthening of regional approaches
• on simplification of post-school funding, there is an intention to bring together funding for student support into one place and funding for apprenticeship provision into one place
• a future model of apprenticeships is being explored, including the role of colleges, independent training providers and employers
• work will continue with the Careers Collaborative to shape a stronger careers offer that supports people to make informed decisions and find the right path to a rewarding career
• enhancement of employer engagement at all points in the system

Mr Dey also expressed his commitment to working with the group and other partners to deliver on this agenda.

Clare Hicks and Adam Reid updated members on the context and objectives for Education and Skills Reform, including key milestones.

Members noted that they found the outline timetable highlighting the path to towards delivery very helpful. Members also expressed their appreciation of the setting out of objectives around the reform agenda.

Members discussed the need to ensure that the education workforce are engaged in reform, ensuring they have a sense of purpose and feel that reform is being advanced with them. The Cabinet Secretary’s commitment to involvement of the profession in the work was wholeheartedly welcomed.

Further detail on the Centre for Teaching Excellence would be welcomed by the group. Members were encouraged by the links to the university sector, and are keen to engage the sector in getting behind this work and helping to shape it.

A request was also made for further details around the national approach to skills planning, in particular how the group can support that and turn it into a practical reality.

Action: Centre for Teaching Excellence to be added to an agenda for a future Ministerial Group meeting.

Action: National approach to skills planning to be added to an agenda for a future Ministerial Group meeting.

In relation to qualifications reform, members observed that some schools are struggling to raise attainment, and this could be due to a lack of a shared understanding of standards in particular in primary schools of what high quality learning and teaching looks like. This is considered fundamental to motivating teachers. Teaching members of the group expressed that there are tensions in how staff are feeling about the challenges ahead, particularly in relation to additional support needs, behaviour and resourcing. It was acknowledged that reform must move beyond structural change and focus on improved outcomes and practical solutions.

Education Reform: Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment

Clare Hicks set out the current government thinking in response to the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment.

The Chair noted that lessons will be learned from the introduction of Curriculum for Excellence, involving teachers in design, delivery and providing certainty about implementation. There is a recognition that change, even pragmatic and phased change, will still require time and support for the workforce. There is also recognition that teachers will require more time if they are to accept greater responsibility for formal assessment.

It was agreed that focus should be on the senior phase and continuous assessment, with a shift in balance between teacher assessment and exams. This relates to the earlier point made about a shared understanding of standards being key, so the teaching profession understands what is expected. There is a need to strike a balance between a clear ambition for qualifications reform and recognising the support required by the teaching profession and wider education system.

Any other business and close

The Chair thanked members for their contributions and closed the meeting.