Councils question new chief education officer role

COUNCILS have raised doubts over the need for a new post of chief education officer with responsibility for closing the attainment gap.

The proposal is contained in The Education (Scotland) Bill which places a greater emphasis on the need for local authorities to improve the performance of pupils from disadvantaged areas.

It places a new statutory duty on councils to “have regard to the desirability” of reducing inequalities, with the drive led by the new officers.

However a submission from council umbrella body Cosla to the Scottish Parliament’s education committee states: “Cosla’s position is that we remain to be convinced that all councils should be required to have a chief education officer.

“The chief education officer proposal appears to add little value to education services, as most authorities already employ senior staff with education qualifications and experience.

“We do not have answers to key questions on the qualifications that will be required by law for chief education officers. We also have a number of practical questions regarding the qualifications and experience that will be necessary.”

The idea to enshrine a greater emphasis on closing the attainment gap in legislation was announced in February by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

By age five pupils from poorer backgrounds can be up to 13 months behind their peers in literacy and numeracy and by the age of 14 pupils from better-off areas are more than twice as likely to do well. Attainment at 16 has risen overall, but a significant and persistent gap remains.