- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 May 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 2 June 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what workforce planning it has carried out regarding the recruitment of school teachers in ICT subjects.
Answer
The Scottish Government conducts an annual teacher workforce planning exercise, in partnership with other stakeholders, to project the minimum requirements for the number of newly trained teachers. This exercise involves analysis of the teacher workforce details, including the age profile of the profession, and local intelligence relating to teacher supply and demand. Subject-specific targets have been set for secondary subjects, including computing, since academic year 2014-15.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 May 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 1 June 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) action it has taken and (b) further plans it has to raise public awareness of Familial Arrhythmia Network in Scotland.
Answer
Familial Arrhythmia Network for Scotland (FANS) aims to improve outcomes in heart disease care for people with life threatening inherited cardiac conditions and their families. FANS is a national managed clinical network comprising specialist healthcare practitioners, such as cardiologists and geneticists, and patient representatives. FANS provides a section for patient involvement on its website, and undertakes a range of actions to work with the general public through its public education events intended to raise public awareness of inherited cardiac conditions.
FANS coordinators and a number of its members participate in the National Advisory Committee for Heart Disease, which works closely with the Scottish Government and a range of key partners to support NHS boards in delivering improved clinical outcomes in treating heart disease conditions including inherited cardiac conditions.
FANS are currently organising their annual national patient education and information event which will take place in the autumn and hosted their 7th professional symposium on the 27 April 2016 to raise awareness and increase knowledge among professionals. The symposium is an annual event which aims to provide the participating healthcare professionals and researchers from across the UK with an opportunity to share best practice in the detection and treatment of inherited cardiac conditions.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 May 2016
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will re-enter Scotland in the (a) Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and (b) Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) assessment of educational progress in schools.
Answer
The Scottish Government has no plans to reintroduce the Progress in International Reading and Literacy Trends (PIRLS) and Trends in International Mathematics and Science (TIMSS) studies for Scotland.
The Scottish Government welcomes international scrutiny of our education system and since 2000 has participated in the largest international survey, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) run by The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), focusing on maths, reading and science. Unlike TIMSS and PIRLS, all OECD countries participate in PISA and it is a more effective indicator of how the whole Scottish education system is performing relative to other countries. It is also more closely aligned to Curriculum for Excellence. The Scottish Government took the decision to withdraw from PIRLS and TIMSS in 2010 in order to reduce the bureaucratic burden on teachers and because the PISA tests provide better information and better international comparisons than either TIMSS and PIRLS.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 May 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what mechanism it will use over the next four years to allocate resources from the Scottish Attainment Fund to schools.
Answer
The Scottish Government has committed to expanding our Attainment Fund and investing an additional £750 million during this parliament to close the gap in educational attainment. To date the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation has been used to identify schools and local authorities with high concentrations of pupils experiencing socio-economic challenges and these have been prioritised for resources. We will continue to focus our efforts on deprivation and the poverty related attainment gap. Details of the plans to allocate the funding to support the challenge will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 May 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it will use over the next four years to determine whether there has been improvement in educational attainment.
Answer
We will gather and analyse a range of data and evidence, through the national improvement framework, to ensure that we have a comprehensive picture of children’s progress that does not focus on one single measure of performance.
The evidence will include a range of information on health and wellbeing, qualifications and awards, post-school destinations, findings from school and local authority self-evaluations and school inspections, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Programme for International Student Assessment study and, over time, early years evidence. We will also gather from teachers their judgement of children’s achievement of Curriculum for Excellence levels in literacy and numeracy in P1, P4, P7 and S3. Teachers will use a range of assessment evidence to inform their judgement of achievement of these levels, including information from new standardised assessments.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 May 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to carry out a review of the support provided to school pupils with additional support needs.
Answer
As a result of the work currently on-going to monitor, report on, maintain and support implementation of the additional support for learning legislation and policies, Scottish Ministers have a good understanding of how the system is working. This will be improved further as the national improvement framework develops, and we gather more information about the progress of children and young people with additional support needs. This will help to focus our improvement efforts more clearly. Through our links with stakeholders and stakeholder groups, we have the means to address any issues which may arise and have regular dialogue about securing improvement for Scotland's children and young people.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 March 2016
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations in the final report of the Commission on Widening Access regarding improving skills among the workforce.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2016
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 3 March 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria the national improvement framework uses to measure the extent of the attainment gap.
Answer
The national improvement framework will ensure that we have more robust and consistent evidence to measure the extent of the attainment gap. For the first time, we will be collecting data on children’s progress as they move through their education from early years until they leave school.
A wide range of progress measures will be used at school level across the curriculum to measure the extent of the attainment gap. This will include teacher judgement, informed by standardised assessment, on achievement of Curriculum for Excellence levels in literacy and numeracy at P1, P4, P7 and S3 by school, local authority and nationally. Data from a range of surveys on health and wellbeing will also be gathered, with changes tracked over time. Further evidence, such as senior phase qualifications, awards data, the percentage of school leavers in positive and sustained destinations, and, over time, early years evidence will also be analysed. Additional information, for example external reviews of careers information, advice and guidance services, will also be gathered to help build a picture of improvement This approach will ensure we have a wealth of data to measure the extent of the attainment gap which can be analysed at pupil level using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 February 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 2 March 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what organisations have received funding from the £1 million Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund, broken down by (a) memorial and (b) amount.
Answer
The Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund is managed by the War Memorials Trust on behalf of the Scottish Government and Historic Environment Scotland.
The following table shows the breakdown of grants offered and final grant paid to organisations where work is now complete:
| Memorial Name | Applicant Organisation | Grant Offer | Final Grant Paid |
| New Kilpatrick Church | New Kilpatrick Parish Church | £9,107 | £9,107 |
| Elderslie | Renfrewshire Council | £6,005 | £6,005 |
| Bridge of Weir | Renfrewshire Council | £7,461 | £7,461 |
| James Stokes | Glasgow City Council | £4,500 | £4,500 |
| 3rd Leith Boys Brigade | Leith St Andrew's Church | £6,672 | £6,672 |
| Moffat | Dumfries and Galloway Council | £1,728 | £1,728 |
| Field Marshall Earl Robert | Glasgow City Council | £26,250 | £26,250 |
| Fair Isle | Fair Isles Community Association | £448 | £296 |
| Cupar | Fife Council | £17,901 | £17,901 |
| Stirling | Stirling City Heritage Trust | £29,853 | £26,782 |
| Crookston | Wallyford Community Council | £2,115 | £1,962 |
| Creich/Bonar Bridge | Creich and Kincardine Branch of RBL Scotland | £10,693 | £10,693 |
| Kirkconnel | Brighten up Kirkconnel and Kelloholm | £3,375 | £3,375 |
| Clyne | Friends of Clyne War Memorial Association | £5,914 | £5,914 |
| Clachan-ath-luib | North Uist Community Council | £2,520 | £2,470 |
| Dunscore | Dunscore Community Council | £778 | £750 |
| Gattonside | Gattonside Village Hall Committee | £1,665 | £1,665 |
| Glasgow School of Art | Glasgow School of Art | £1,215 | £1,140 |
| Hopeman Memorial Hall | Hopeman Community Association | £10,000 | £4,190 |
| Aberlour Orphanage | Aberlour Child Care Trust | £3,344 | £3,344 |
| Avendale Old Parish Church | Old Parish Church and Drumclog Memorial Kirk | £1,088 | £788 |
| Laurencekirk Parish | Laurencekirk Church of Scotland | £5,760 | £5,590 |
| Pierowall | Westray Community Council | £896 | £896 |
| Walls | Sandness & Walls Community Council | £2,010 | £2,010 |
| Callander | RBL Scotland - Callander Branch | £9,310 | £9,310 |
| Peeblesshire | Scottish Borders Council | £22,000 | £22,000 |
| Ormiston | East Lothian Council | £9,130 | £8,220 |
| Minard | Minard Community Trust | £2,990 | £2,760 |
| West Kilbride | West Kilbride Parish Church | £990 | £990 |
| North Tolsta | Tolsta Community Council | £2,930 | Grant not required |
| Tayport | RBL Scotland - Tayport Branch | £13,470 | £13,470 |
| Fintry Kirk | Fintry Kirk | £500 | £430 |
| Milngavie | East Dunbartonshire Council | £7,310 | £7,310 |
| Bearsden | East Dunbartonshire Council | £9,240 | £9,240 |
| Longhope | Graemsay, Hoy & Walls Community Council | £750 | £730 |
| Stromness | Stromness Community Council | £13,170 | £12,810 |
| Cameronians | Glasgow City Council | £2,090 | £2,090 |
| Dundonald | Dundonald Community Council | £8,050 | £8,050 |
| Beauly - Lovat Scout | Beauly Community Council | £15,480 | £15,480 |
| Girvan | South Ayrshire Council | £12,690 | £12,690 |
| Hopeman war memorial hall | Hopeman Community Association | £3,750 | £3,750 |
| Douglas | Douglas Community Council | £8,880 | £8,880 |
| Colonel John Cameron | Lochaber Local History Society | £15,400 | £14,240 |
| Glasgow Academy (external memorial) | The Glasgow Academy | £10,210 | £10,210 |
| Gordon Schools | The Gordon Schools | £1,390 | £940 |
| Kitchener Memorial | Orkney Heritage Society | £30,000 | Work not yet complete |
| Keiss | Sinclair Bay Community Council | £1,180 | £1,180 |
| Limekilns and Charleston | Limekilns, Charlestown and Pattiesmuir Community Council | £2,370 | £2,370 |
| Walls | Shetland Islands Council | £2,460 | £2,370 |
| South Ronaldsay | South Ronaldsay and Burray Community Council | £9,370 | Work not yet complete |
| Scottish American memorial | Edinburgh City Council | £1,110 | Work not yet complete |
| Helensburgh | Argyll and Bute Council | £60,000 | Work not yet complete |
| Stronsay | Stronsay Community Council | £715 | Work not yet complete |
| Law | Law Community Trust | £1,400 | £1,400 |
| Caledonian Station Hotel | Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh | £890 | £890 |
| Royal Scots Greys | | Ratho | | Slateford | | Dalmeny | | Duddingston | | Canongate | | Newhaven | | South Queensferry | | Edinburgh City Council | £35,190.00 | Work not yet complete |
| Invergarry | Glengarry Community Council | £2,700 | Grant not required |
| St Anne's Dunbar | St Anne’s Episcopal Church | £22,670 | Work not yet complete |
| Tullibody | Clackmannanshire Council | £30,000 | Work not yet complete |
| Cowie | Cowie War Memorial Research Group | £1,530 | Work not yet complete |
| Duke of Wellington | TGP Landscape Architects | £750 | Work not yet complete |
| Falkirk Boer War | TGP Landscape Architects | £750 | Work not yet complete |
| Barra and Vatersay | Barra and Vatersay War Memorial Association | £2,080 | Work not yet complete |
| Kirkintilloch | East Dunbartonshire Council | £48,220 | Work not yet complete |
| Campsie | East Dunbartonshire Council | £26,750 | Work not yet complete |
| Longhope | Graemsay, Hoy and Walls Community Council | £4,130 | Work not yet complete |
| Strathblane | Strathblane Community Council | £2,410 | Work not yet complete |
| TOTAL | | £617,703 | £323,299 |
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 2 March 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29415 by Alasdair Allan on 2 February 2016, how the £1 million that was announced in December 2012 was allocated and what information it has regarding how many instruments were purchased, broken down by local authority.
Answer
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) was charged with administering the investment and liaising with the Instrumental Music Service in each authority, on behalf of the Scottish Government. The total investment of £1 million was allocated in two phases. Phase one was a direct formulaic allocation to local authorities for instruments to be used by the Instrumental Music Service. Phase two consisted of an open bidding process, which permitted instruments to be purchased for community use.
As part of this exercise the RCS prepared a report on instruments purchased and costs associated. This can be accessed at the attached link: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/staff/broad_stephen/.
