Swinney hails education renaissance despite threat of industrial action by teachers’ union
The Scottish Government’s “moral mission” to improve schooling for youngsters has sparked an educational renaissance, the Deputy First Minister has said.
John Swinney said reforms introduced by the SNP in government were making a “breath-taking” difference.
And he insisted it was “time to press on” with the changes that are being brought in.
Addressing the SNP conference in Aberdeen, the Education Secretary hailed the country’s “fantastic young people” and “brilliant teachers”.
But as he was speaking members of Scotland’s largest teaching union, the EIS were preparing to ballot for industrial action - includ- ing possible strikes - after the school summer break, if their demands for a 10 per cent pay rise are not met. Union general secretary Larry Flanagan also told the AGM in Dundee that reforms in the government’s Education Bill are “doomed to failure if they have no impact on classroom practice”. In his speech Mr Swinney acknowledged there was “much more to do”, but he stated: “I believe we are seeing the start of the renaissance in Scottish education.”
He insisted it was the government’s “moral mission to deliver on education”, with the Deputy First Minister saying he wanted “everyone to benefit from the mind expanding power of education”. He said: “We will reform school education, encouraging the best educational practice to be shared around the country, by giving more powers to headteachers to decide what works best in the classrooms of local schools.”
Referring to the £120 million pupil equity fund - money the Scottish Government sends direct to schools for headteachers to spend as they choose - he added: “The difference is breath-taking. Schools are empowered, innovation is thriving.”