Children’s charity hits out at new ‘empowerment’ plans for schools

The Scottish Government’s newplanstoempowerschools are “worryingly silent” on how to achieve the highest standards of teaching, according to a leading children’s charity.

Children in Scotland is demanding greater clarity on how improvements could be achieved.

The call comes in response to plans outlined in Provisions of the Education (Scotland) Bill, which proposes handing over greater powers to schools and headteachers and increase community and parental involvement in learning.

In his foreword to the consultation document, education secretary John Swinney said: “Our education system must enable children to achieve their full potential regardless 0 John Swinney says pupils reaching full potential is crucial of their background. In addition to being a moral imperative it is critical for the future success of our country on the world stage.”

But Jackie Brock, chief executive of Children in Scotland, criticised the lack of clarity on the failings of the current system and how the reforms could help headteachers better meet the needs of school communities.

“The key to excellent learning is excellent teaching,” she said. “But the government’s proposals are silent on how excellent teaching will be encouraged, supported and improved on.”

The group has also raised concern that plans to hand over control of funding for additional support for learning to schools could result in “a postcode lottery” for pupils.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Our education reforms are focused on giving schools and headteachers more power and money to raise standards and close the attainment gap.

“Our reform proposals are based on international evidence of how high-performing education systems work.”