‘Secrecy’ call over reforms report

Publication of an expert report containing concerns about the Scottish Government’s education reforms was held up for months and only released after the plans were announced.

The paper with the initial findings from the International Council of Education Advisers (ICEA) was finished in April but was not made public until July, after Education Secretary John Swinney confirmed plans for the controversial changes.

The report praised but also warned against becoming “too focused on changing the structure of the education system”, suggesting “culture and capacity” are of greater importance.

Documents released under Freedom of Information laws show the ICEA contacted civil servants seeking permission from Mr Swinney to publish the initial findings on April 11 but the report was not made public until July 25.

The Scottish Government said the holdup was due to the purdah period surrounding the local government and general elections and the findings were published as soon as was “appropriate and practicable”.

However, Labour has accused the SNP of creating a “cloud of secrecy”.

Labour education spokesman Iain Gray said: “These are deeply troubling revelations.

“It is unacceptable that this report was kept hidden from the public and parliament until after John Swinney had forced through the reforms that his own advisers explicitly criticise.”