Swinney defends ‘shambles’ over schools reform
Deputy Scottish Political Editor
JOHN SWINNEY yesterday defended his decision to shelve plans for a shake-up of Scotland’s education system and said reforms will still face parliamentary scrutiny.
The Education Secretary has pledged to appear in front of Holyrood’s powerful education committee to allow MSPs to quiz him over the reforms.
Appearing on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland, Mr Swinney said he had changed his mind in pursuing the Education Bill after meeting with those who would be affected by the move.
But, he was challenged over whether this would see less scrutiny of the Government plans to hand more powers to headteachers.
Mr Swinney said: ‘Of course there will be parliamentary scrutiny. I will be in front of the education committee on any moment the education committee asks me to come in front of it, as I always am.’
However, as the legislation has been dropped for now, the plans will not go before Holyrood’s chamber, limiting the MSPs who can raise concerns over the actions of government.
On Tuesday Mr Swinney disclosed that he had been forced to ditch legislation for the biggest overhaul of the education system in decades after criticism from teachers, parents and opponents.
He said he would not move forward with the Education Bill, despite previous claims the flagship policy was a priority for the Government.
The Deputy First Minister tried to claim that dropping the legislation would allow him to ‘fast-track’ changes in schools – but critics have described his handling of the reforms as a ‘shambles’.
He was accused of attempting to bury bad news, announcing the decision as Nicola Sturgeon carried out the biggest reshuffle since the SNP came to power.
Mr Swinney said: ‘What I have planned is a different way of achieving the same objective.
‘What I set out when I started the whole consultation process around the Education Bill was a determination to follow international evidence that was that if we have an empowered school system we are more likely to deliver the excellency and the equity I am seeking in Scotland.’
He added: ‘It is not a sudden realisation, I’ve been talking about this point for two years.
‘I believed that the best way to secure that outcome was by legislation in the Scottish parliament.
‘I have gone and done what parliament have asked me to do, and I’ve talked to stakeholders.’
Last year, the First Minister claimed the Education Bill would ‘deliver the biggest and most radical change to how our schools are run’.
It would have given powers to headteachers over the curriculum, funding and recruitment, as well as disbanding the General Teaching Council for Scotland and creating an Education Workforce Council.
However, several parts of the plan have been dropped, but the SNP will move forward to hand more powers to headteachers.
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw criticised the Government over a ‘pretty dismal’ performance in government, claiming that they had broken a promise over the ditching of the Education Bill.
The Tories had been the only party willing to support the Government on the policy – but it would have passed with their support.
Mr Carlaw said: ‘The SNP’s end of term report mark is pretty dismal, a D – they have done little but dither, delay and duck.
‘Whether it is their dumped flagship Education Bill, dithering over welfare devolution, or ducking the hard choices on the economy, Nicola Sturgeon has consistently demonstrated that the SNP has taken its eye off the ball.’
He added that Miss Sturgeon’s failure to take on reforms in schools and work on Scotland’s economy showed the SNP was only working to seek a second independence referendum.
Mr Carlaw said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon has shown once again that she is determined to break her biggest promise: to respect the result of the independence referendum and get on with the day job.
‘She has stridently made it plain over the last 12 months that her government’s first priority is independence only; it really does “transcend everything”.’
‘Of course there will be scrutiny’