This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Inspectors report on education
21/02/2006
Scotland's strong educational system stands up well to international comparisons and produces many young people who perform well in school and beyond according to education inspectors.
But - in a report published today - inspectors also call for a determined drive to tackle underperformance and raise standards.
In Improving Scottish Education, inspectors set out their findings based on education inspections since 2002. The publication is the first ever to look at all stages of Scottish education from pre-school to community learning. It sets out strengths and areas where education must improve in the future.
Key strengths include:
- confidence in the education system expressed by stakeholders, including parents and learners themselves
- achievements of many learners
- overall good quality of the curriculum, learning and teaching
- high quality and commitment of staff, and the quality of the support and care they provide for learners
- positive climate and relations between staff and learners in all sectors
- much high quality leadership
- a commitment to self-evaluation which is internationally admired and emulated
The report also highlights challenges that apply across sectors, including:
- ensuring consistently high quality learning and teaching
- raising achievement
- meeting the needs of all learners, particularly the most vulnerable
- reasserting the professional roles and responsibilities of teachers
- improving leadership
- addressing underperformance
- working in partnership across children's services
- rising to the challenge of radical change
Senior Chief Inspector Graham Donaldson said:
""Education in Scotland has changed, is changing and must continue to change. It is vital that our schools and colleges prepare all of our young people and adult learners for a future which will be both exciting and challenging. The future wellbeing of our people and the economic success of the country demand that we keep improving.
"Inspection shows that Scottish education already does many things well and some things particularly well. We know that Scottish pupils perform well internationally and that parents generally have confidence in their local school. Most learners in Scotland are well served. At the same time there are still areas of underperformance which must be addressed. A small but significant number of learners are let down by weaknesses in the education they receive.
"Success depends on high quality learning and teaching. We are fortunate to have many able and dedicated people who are working to provide a better education for pupils and students. We need to see this high quality in every classroom across Scotland, so that we can continue to drive up standards in Scottish education and provide excellent education for all.
"Our evidence clearly shows the central importance of intelligent and imaginative leadership if we are to meet the challenges of the future. It is encouraging that we are able to report high quality leadership across all sectors but there still remain too many instances where significant improvement is needed.
"We need to be very clear about what we want Scottish education to provide for our young people and adult learners and to be resolute in securing high quality for all. That means tackling difficult problems with determination. It also means ensuring that the curriculum, national qualifications, the professionalism of educators, and the quality of leadership are good enough and flexible enough to respond to the challenges of the future."
The full report and additional factual appendices are available on the HMIE website.