Official Report 1700KB pdf
Education and Skills
Good afternoon. The next item of business is portfolio question time, and the portfolio is education and skills.
Colleges (Borrowing Powers)
I apologise for having to leave immediately after question 1, and I am grateful to the Presiding Officer for accepting my request to do so.
The Scottish Government works closely with the sector and the Scottish Funding Council to create the conditions for the sector to deliver high-quality learning and training for people across Scotland. That includes exploring opportunities to support longer-term investment, whether that is through responsible borrowing or through generating surpluses. Crucially, we are considering it with the sector, and I ask the Parliament to note the Government-initiated question S6W-44232 on this issue, which was answered today.
In exploring the opportunities, we must be mindful of the borrowing constraints on Scotland set by the current constitutional arrangement and the fiscal framework, and the important rules within them on public-sector budgeting and accounting.
The college sector in Scotland urgently needs those greater flexibilities to upgrade the estate and secure long-term financial sustainability. Since the Office for National Statistics classification following the regionalisation process, Scotland’s colleges have been unable to borrow or retain surpluses, unlike their counterparts elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Colleges in England and Northern Ireland are afforded the ability by the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to borrow and to hold reserves, and Welsh colleges, too, can retain surpluses and borrow. Scotland’s colleges can do none of that.
We have entrepreneurial colleges, such as the City of Glasgow College, which I visited recently and which has advanced plans for and investment partners interested in an ambitious innovation centre at its Riverside campus. However, it needs those additional powers if it is to take those plans forward. At a recent Colleges Scotland hustings, the minister and all political parties agreed that that is something that should be considered. When, and how, will it be delivered?
I appreciate those points and, as the Parliament would expect, I have had constructive engagement on them since taking up the post of Minister for Higher and Further Education, as did my predecessor.
It is important that we consider the asks of the sector in a collegiate way, and in that respect, I have noted the request on page 12 of Colleges Scotland’s manifesto. I attended the event that Douglas Ross referred to, and I reiterate what I said at it: there is an open-mindedness, but we want to consider the matters with the sector. That is why the work that was announced in the GIQ today is important. We want to do these things collegiately with the sector, the Scottish Funding Council and the Government.
I also draw the Parliament’s attention to the fact that, alongside the work that was formally announced today, the Scottish Funding Council is working with the sector on the next phase of infrastructure investments. That work includes looking at innovative ways to fund major new investments, and the role of public and private finance in that.
There is an opportunity here. With the £70 million upgrade agreed in the budget, plus the agreement to review the credit system, and the agreement that we have with the colleges on a review of the overall arrangements, we have a real opportunity to inject more optimism into the sector—optimism that it desperately needs.
I support Douglas Ross on this issue: we need to allow colleges to keep their surpluses and to borrow, and I urge the minister to consider that in the last few weeks of this parliamentary session. I also hope that, in the next parliamentary session—if more of us come back—we will be able to come forward with a positive plan for colleges, because we desperately need them to thrive.
I fully agree that there is a significant opportunity to pivot from a sense of challenge and pressure to a sense of optimism and collective determination. Indeed, there is real ambition across the chamber, the sector and the SFC to pivot to that collective, positive and proactive mindset. However, we do need to think the matter through carefully and consider the fiscal framework and the effects on the Scottish Government’s borrowing capacity. Of course, if we had more capacity to borrow, that would be beneficial, but I do not want to get into a constitutional debate.
We have an opportunity, which the Government is open-minded about exploring, along with the other considerations that we will undertake. These are important matters that we can work collectively on with the college sector and the SFC with a view to making a significant positive difference.
Colleges are invaluable to Scotland’s education system and to our society. What specific work is the Scottish Government doing to help the sector to have a sustainable future?
I reiterate that I was pleased to announce the beginning of the formal work on the college sector of the future workstream, which is an ambitious short-life workstream that will begin the work that we all need to do to design and deliver a sustainable college sector that is able to support the skills needs of Scotland. The process will be co-designed with Colleges Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council, and it will draw on the views and ideas of college leaders, staff and trade unions, as well as on previous research. It will consider the views of the learners of today and tomorrow, and, of course, the views of businesses, employers and independent experts. Further details will be made available in due course as the work progresses.
Rural Schools
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect and strengthen schools in rural areas. (S6O-05636)
The Scottish Government is committed to protecting and strengthening rural education. That is reflected in the enhanced statutory protections applying to rural schools that are contained in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, which include, for example, the presumption against closure.
In addition, we are encouraging probationary teachers to take up placements in rural schools through the preference waiver payment, which offers £6,000 for primary, and £8,000 for secondary, probationary teachers in exchange for flexibility in placement location. Teachers in rural areas can also be eligible for the remote schools allowance and the distant islands allowance.
Given that Scottish Government-funded population research shows that the loss of even a single essential service, such as a school or a nursery, can trigger a domino effect on housing demand, transport viability and wider community cohesion, and given that six nurseries in my constituency, including those in Drummore, Creetown and Kirkcowan, face temporary closure by Dumfries and Galloway Council, without any consultation, what action will the Scottish Government take to ensure that local authorities cannot make isolated decisions on school or nursery closures—whether temporary or permanent—without assessing their cumulative impact on rural population sustainability? Furthermore, what assurances can the minister provide that the specific decisions to which I referred will not accelerate rural depopulation? Will the Government consider requiring councils to publish full depopulation impact assessments before progressing any statutory consultation or closure proposals?
The member raises important points, and what he has said is very concerning. The Scottish Government committed to reviewing the guidance on temporary closures for schools and council-run early learning and childcare settings—a practice that was previously referred to as mothballing. That review has now taken place, and the updated guidance provides clear advice for local authorities on when temporary closure is appropriate and how decisions should be made. It strengthens expectations around transparency, early engagement with parents and communities, and consideration of educational benefit and community impact. It is very concerning to hear that that has not taken place, and I ask the member to write to ministers with further detail on the situation so that we can explore it further.
I, too, have rural schools in my area. Over the past decade, the Scottish Government has increased spending on Scotland’s schools by more than £1 billion in real terms to support our pupils and teachers. Will the minister outline how the Scottish budget—which, of course, Finlay Carson did not vote for—supports the attainment of children and young people across Scotland, including in rural schools?
The 2026-27 budget, which provides more than £3.5 billion to support education and skills, includes up to £200 million of investment, through the Scottish attainment challenge programme, for closing the poverty-related attainment gap. In December, the latest data showed that attainment levels in literacy and numeracy across primary and secondary schools were at a record high.
In addition, the budget will further expand the provision of free breakfast clubs and free school meals to reduce the poverty-related attainment gap, will continue the provision of extra funding for pupils with additional support needs and will provide £186.5 million of investment to protect teacher numbers in our schools.
Defence, Aerospace and Space Sectors (Skills Shortages)
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to colleges and universities to address skills shortages in the defence, aerospace and space sectors. (S6O-05637)
The Scottish Government is delivering a programme to reform the post-school education and skills system, in which the 2026-27 Scottish budget will invest more than £2.4 billion. There are more than 14,000 full-time-equivalent college students on engineering courses, and we are working with regional partners and industry to support that.
Engineering and energy-related apprenticeships are already a priority for Skills Development Scotland, and they comprise 8 per cent of new apprenticeship starts and 15 per cent of all modern apprenticeships in training in the year 2024-25. Those skills support many sectors, including the defence, aerospace and space sectors.
The strategic importance of the aerospace, defence and space industries to Scotland cannot be overstated, as they add £3.7 billion to the economy and currently employ just under 37,000 people. I welcome the fact that many Scottish colleges and universities are developing active partnerships with the sectors, a great example of which is the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, which is hosted by the University of Strathclyde. I also note today’s announcement of the Scottish defence growth deal and the skills aspect within that.
However, a significant roadblock that is impeding future growth and prospects is the chronic skills shortage, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Does the minister agree that, in order to address that challenge, we must see in the next parliamentary session an expansion in the scale of engineering skills provision, stronger industry collaboration and the expansion of models such as the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland to secure our future skills needs in such vital sectors?
The member raises important points. I should note to the Parliament that I met the sector this year to discuss many of these issues. I am aware of the contribution that the sectors make, not just through my role as a Scottish Government minister but in my capacity as a constituency member.
The Scottish Government is developing a new skills planning model and is working with key partners to identify sectors of focus and skills priorities and to set out expectations for the post-school system with regard to meeting Scotland’s future skills needs. I draw members’ attention to the letter that I sent to the Education, Children and Young People Committee on 27 February that sets out, in general terms, how that work will progress. More will be said on that in the near future.
Engineering is one of the key areas emerging as a focus in the initial work on skills planning. My officials are engaging with stakeholders on that to ensure that we work together to deliver the skills that those sectors and the wider economy will need.
The First Minister will have seen on his recent visit to SaxaVord spaceport the impressive progress that is being made at the most northernly space project in Scotland. Given that space is the future, what more can the Scottish Government do to ensure that the education and training skills that are needed in the defence, aerospace and space sectors can be accessed in the rural and island areas that are close to innovative developments such as the SaxaVord spaceport on Unst?
The member is right to highlight the importance of the sector and its future potential growth, the necessity of making sure that we are skilling workers in our rural and island communities across the country and ensuring that the workers in those communities have appropriate educational opportunities, particularly in relation to growth sectors in their areas.
I ask the member to read the letter that I sent the ECYP committee on 27 February. The skills planning work that I referred to will consider the regional aspects of how we do skills planning on a cyclical basis in order to meet the needs of the legislation that Parliament recently passed on 20 January.
School Investment Programmes (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth)
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been invested in schools in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency through the schools for the future programme and the learning estate investment programme. (S6O-05638)
Through the Scotland’s schools for the future programme, we awarded North Lanarkshire Council significant funding of £42 million towards the Cumbernauld academy and Greenfaulds high school projects in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency. In North Lanarkshire more widely, through the learning estate and investment programme, we will provide the council with substantial funding of £9.9 million to support the extension of Chryston high school.
The significant investment that the Scottish Government made in Cumbernauld academy and Greenfaulds high school has transformed the learning environment for pupils there. North Lanarkshire Council has plans and ambitions to replace all schools that were built before 1996. Clearly, it is for the council to take forward that programme, but can the cabinet secretary confirm that it will have the opportunity to draw down support from the Scottish Government?
I very much agree with what Jamie Hepburn said about the difference that this Government’s investment has made in his constituency at Cumbernauld academy and Greenfaulds high school, and about the importance of having high-quality, well-ventilated learning environments across North Lanarkshire and Scotland.
Through the £2 billion learning estate investment programme, 18 new school projects have already opened nationwide, benefiting around 15,000 pupils. The latest school estate statistics, which were published in September last year, show that a record 92 per cent of Scotland’s schools are now in a good or satisfactory condition, which is up from 62.7 per cent in 2007.
We will continue working with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and with local authorities, including North Lanarkshire Council, and with the Scottish Futures Trust, to explore how we can deliver further improvements to Scotland’s school estate.
Paul Sweeney is joining us remotely.
School Provision and Safe Travel Routes (Robroyston)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will meet with stakeholders to discuss school provision and safe travel routes in Robroyston. (S6O-05639)
The Scottish Government recognises the strength of community concern about the provision of school places and the safety of walking routes in Robroyston. Responsibility for managing the school estate and for assessing the safety of walking routes rests with Glasgow City Council. Scottish Government officials continue to engage with the council, which has advised that schools in the area currently have adequate capacity.
The Scottish Government updated the school transport guidance last December, strengthening the advice for councils on their responsibilities regarding pupil safety and the assessment of walking routes to schools.
There is real concern that the methodology and modelling being used in community growth areas such as Robroyston does not accurately reflect real need.
The situation has been going on for years. I recently carried out a local survey that heard from 167 respondents, 74 per cent of whom said that they had experienced issues with placing their child in a nursery, primary or secondary school while living in Robroyston. The survey asked how likely it was, on a scale of least likely to most likely, that respondents would stay in Robroyston if current circumstances remained the same. Shockingly, 73 respondents said that they were least likely to stay in Robroyston if things did not change.
There is a real risk that, without urgent action and intervention, what should be a proud new suburb of Glasgow will quickly falter and fail, so can the cabinet secretary confirm that she will meet stakeholders and Scottish Government officials to look at the modelling that Glasgow City Council is using, to address the issue before behavioural effects take root and people leave the area altogether?
It seems that there is an issue that is localised to Robroyston. I can ask officials to engage with Glasgow City Council. I place on record that the statutory responsibility rests with the local authority and that ministers are extremely limited in the actions that we can take to intervene, because the power to take action to address the issues that Mr Sweeney has raised rests with the local authority. I am more than happy to take away the member’s ask that officials engage directly with Glasgow City Council.
Question 6 has not been lodged.
Budget 2026-27 (Apprenticeships)
To ask the Scottish Government how its budget 2026-27 will support apprenticeships. (S6O-05641)
We are providing around £198 million in 2026-27 to support 25,500 new modern apprenticeships, 5,000 new foundation apprenticeships and more than 1,200 new graduate apprenticeships and will continue providing support for more than 39,000 apprentices who are already in training.
Our priority is to maximise high-quality apprenticeships to meet business needs and to develop our future workforce. Funding will be closely aligned with skills priorities to support economic growth and help to tackle youth unemployment. We will continue working closely with the Scottish Funding Council and with Skills Development Scotland to assess demand and to ensure that funding is targeted appropriately.
It is vital that Scotland’s young people have support and opportunities to access the pathways that best fit their interests and skill sets. Following Scottish apprenticeship week, how is the Scottish National Party Government continuing to ensure that an array of positive destinations is available to our young folk, supporting Scotland’s existing and growing industries?
It is important to acknowledge that the latest school leaver statistics show that 95.7 per cent of young people entered a positive destination in 2025, which is the second-highest level on record.
We are committed to ensuring that every young person can access the route that best suits their ambitions, including apprenticeships, training or further study, and that they can access whatever is their preference and whatever will help them to achieve their full potential.
The Scottish Government funds a wide range of provision, including Developing the Young Workforce, the employer network and third sector partners offering mentoring and work experience. We also continue to engage industry and employers as we reform the skills system.
When I attended the launch of the future roofing programme at Prestwick academy on 27 February, I spoke to the school, industry and young people about the roofing pathway that has been developed over the years, which includes a national 5 creative industries qualification in roof slating. How will the budget support young people from Prestwick academy who have made an informed decision to pursue a career in roofing when they will have to travel for more than four hours per day to undertake the college-based training?
Further detail would be required to answer that question properly, including what engagement there has been with the college and with Skills Development Scotland, and how those opportunities are being offered and facilitated. I am happy for the member to follow that up with me, but I also suggest and encourage engagement with Skills Development Scotland and Ayrshire College.
There are remarkable opportunities in Ayrshire. I went to Ayrshire College and saw that it does phenomenal work, including its collaboration with the private sector and the consideration that it is giving to making sure that there are appropriate public sector priorities and opportunities. We need to ensure that we celebrate and recognise the creative industries, which were mentioned, because they are a massive contributor to not only our economic success but our cultural enrichment, which we and others around the world enjoy.
Schools (Violent and Disruptive Incidents)
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to reduce the number of violent and disruptive incidents in schools. (S6O-05642)
There is no place for violence and abuse in Scotland’s schools. We continue to implement our relationships and behaviour in schools action plan, working with partners including the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the teaching trade unions, and I will shortly publish the annual progress report detailing activity in the past 12 months. That includes new guidance on consequences and on risk assessments for violent, aggressive and dangerous behaviour. We have also started work to review our national exclusions guidance.
The 2026-27 budget will invest more than £3.5 billion to deliver our continued commitment to strengthening the sustainability and resilience of our education system, including the protection of teacher numbers and investment in additional support needs.
Shockingly, Scotland now has the highest recorded rate of violence against teachers anywhere in the United Kingdom. In the past decade, serious violent injuries to school staff have tripled, yet the data still varies widely between councils. Teachers and parents have been warning about the issue for years, but little has changed.
With only weeks left in office, will the cabinet secretary now—finally—act by introducing clear-cut national guidance on tackling violence in schools, a consistent national reporting system and reform of exclusions, which has been worked on for a while, so that schools can be the safe workplaces and places to learn that they should be?
I thank Mr Kerr for his question and for his general interest in the topic during the current parliamentary session, which led to some of the work that I detailed in my original answer.
The member raises an important point in relation to the use of data in Scottish education. We see variance across the piece. This morning, I was at Murrayfield stadium at the additional support for learning cross-party conference. A key part of the ASL review is looking at inconsistency across the country in terms of additional support needs and how they are recorded. One of the key recommendations to come from that cross-party review is that we look at having a national staged intervention model. There is clearly an ask from Parliament for more national direction from the Government. However, as cabinet secretary, I also need to be mindful that, at the current time, the statutory responsibility for the delivery of education rests with local authorities. What I can do as cabinet secretary is to issue guidance.
The member asked a question in relation to violent and aggressive incidents. I gave an update on the guidance that we published to that end last June, and I referred to the forthcoming work in relation to consequences.
Given the recent report that hundreds of school support workers in Edinburgh have quit within months of starting due to a surge in pupils’ violence, and given the survey by the Educational Institute of Scotland and Unison that shows that there have been 5,200 violent incidents against teachers in Scotland over the past five years, what action will the Scottish Government take with local authorities to protect school staff and reduce violence in schools?
When we talk about behaviour in schools, we need to be careful, as we are not seeking to demonise the next generation. The majority of children and young people in Scotland’s schools are well behaved; the behaviour in Scottish schools research documented that. However, it also suggested that there have been changes in behaviour in our schools post-pandemic, which the Scottish Government recognises.
In answer to Foysol Choudhury’s point, that is exactly why we have worked with local government on a national action plan, as I said to Stephen Kerr, sharing responsibility in relation to developing guidance on consequences, risk assessment, supporting attendance and racism and racist incidents, as well as guidance on responding to substance abuse in schools, which we will publish in the coming weeks.
Later, we will publish further guidance on the recording and monitoring of incidents in schools and updated national guidance on exclusion. Partnership working with local government is well under way.
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