This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Peter Peacock takes to the road to improve our schools
24/08/1999
A series of country-wide roadshows on Improving our Schools kicked off in Shetland today when Deputy Minister for Children and Education Peter Peacock met with parents, teachers, pupils and education authority representatives to discuss proposals for the Scottish Executives first major Bill.
During the hour long question and answer session in Lerwick, Peter Peacock encouraged the audience to take advantage of the opportunity the Scottish Parliament brings to have their say in the future of Scottish education. He said:
"Publication of Improving our Schools marked the beginning of a new era of involving the people of Scotland in drawing-up legislation which directly affects them.
"The Scottish Executive wants a world class education system for Scotland's children. We want teachers, parents, pupils and local authorities to form a partnership with us to make sure these proposals deliver continuous improvement in our schools.
"The proposals focus on schools as the centres of improvement but say they must operate in a framework of challenge and support in which the local authority's role is of central importance. We will establish a clear framework of responsibility, where all involved know what they are aiming for. This chain of responsibility ends with the Education Ministers and we will play our part in delivering the best education system for Scotland.
"This series of roadshows will be an invaluable way of hearing the views of people across Scotland and these views will inform the Improvement in Scottish Education Bill to be put before the Scottish Parliament in November."
The proposals in "Improving our Schools" will be presented to parents, teachers, pupils and education authority representatives in a series of roadshows hosted by Minister for Children and Education Sam Galbraith and Peter Peacock around the country.
Roadshows scheduled so far are: 25th August Aberdeen; 6th September Glasgow; 21st September Dundee; 27th September Inverness; 29th September Edinburgh. Comments can also be received as detailed below.
BACKGROUND
1. Improving our Schools - Consultation on the Improvement in Scottish Education Bill was published by the Scottish Executive on the 7th July 1999. The document can also be found on the Scottish Executive Web site at www.scotland.gov.uk. The site also includes a discussion forum.
2. Comments on the proposals should be sent to:
Geoff Huggins,
The Scottish Executive Education Department,
Area 2A,
Victoria Quay,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6QQ
e-mail: educationbill@scotland.gov.uk
3. A Web Site for young people's input to the Improvement in Scottish Education Bill consultation can be found at: www.edbill.org.uk
News Release: SE0375/99
24 August, 1999