The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Reforms aim to improve Scotland's schools

01/11/2004

Twelve key actions to improve Scotland's schools were unveiled today by Education Minister Peter Peacock.

They are part of a wider package of reforms which together make up the most comprehensive modernisation programme in schools for a generation.

The dozen key reforms, which are particularly aimed at secondary schools, are:

• A new gold standard - the Excellence Standard - for top performing schools

• A new 3-18 curriculum - accepting in full the recommendations of the first phase of the curriculum review to deliver more choice, a greater emphasis on literacy and numeracy and more time for pupils to study Highers

• A review of Standard Grades to simplify the exams structure, with a decision made about their future by 2007

• Allowing pupils to sit examsearlier by abolishing the outdated 'age and stage' regulations

• Allowing primary teachers to work in secondary schools so that pupils' performance does not suffer when they move from P7 to S1

• A newLeadershipAcademy, backed by the Hunter Foundation, to help headteachers lead from the front

• A Schools of Ambition Programme to fast-track improvements in those schools most in need of transformation or those which want to extend themselves further - Executive funding of £8 million a year will be invested in the Programme and the Leadership Academy

• Extending devolved school management so that headteachers have more money to spend at their discretion, three year budgets to better plan change and a greater say over staffing structures

• New Skills For Work courses and qualifications to provide pupils with more vocational choices and more opportunities to make their way in the world of work

• More international comparisons between Scotland's education performance and that of other countries to ensure Scotland continues to compete internationally

• A new Survey of Achievement to ensure the best possible information is available on schools' performance

• A new round of local authority inspections to ensure they are getting the best performance from their schools and headteachers.

Announcing the reforms at Gracemount High School in Edinburgh, Mr Peacock said:

"This package - the most comprehensive modernisation programme in our schools for a generation - is about immediate action to deliver improvement.

"Action that will deliver a more exciting education for pupils; action for parents who want their children to have more choice; action to give teachers and headteachers more freedoms; action for the economy by giving employers and young people the skills they need.

"And action that delivers for Scotland an ever improving education system that is competitive on the world stage.

"These reforms will create ambitious, confident Scots who can help build stronger communities and grow the economy. They are another achivement for devolution in Scotland."

Graham Donaldson, Senior Chief Inspector at Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education, said of the new Excellence Standard:

"Extending the inspection scale so that we can both recognise the excellence that currently exists and also set an aspirational target for all schools is the next logical step in what we're doing."

Iain McMillan, Director of CBI Scotland and a member of the curriculum review group, said of the new 3-18 curriculum:

"Implementing the new curriculum will mean that young people are far more stimulated by what and how they learn, their interest will be retained and they will get much more from their education.

"This is good for young people but also for employers, particularly as some time in the new curriculum will be freed up to learn about the world of work and enterprise."

Explaining how the Hunter Foundation would contribute to the expansion of leadership development for headteachers, Chairman Tom Hunter said:

"We can go out, find best practice wherever it is in the world and bring it right back here to see if it can work for Scotland. Along the way we can provide more money to help fund these projects."