Parents and teachers urged to give views on school reform proposals
Parents, teachers and pupils have been urged to give their view on plans to hand greater control of funding to schools.
Education Secretary John Swinney said the way local authorities use their education budgets was “complex and lacks transparency”, and that schools were better placed to make more decisions on finance.
He outlined two options for funding as part of major reforms to Scotland’s school system, which include giving headteachers the power to choose staff and manage- ment structures, making them responsible for closing the attainment gap between rich and poor pupils, and enabling them to decide the curriculum within a broad national framework.
Mr Swinney said: “We want far more decisions on school funding to be in the hands of those with the expertise and insight to target resources at the greatest need - the schools themselves.
“They know our children best and know what will best improve Scottish education.
“That is why we think much greater financial control should rest with teachers, parents and schools.”
Mr Swinney added: “This is a key part of this Government’s reforms - but we want to know what parents, teachers and young people themselves think is the best way to achieve this.”