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Education Bill consultation launched

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John Swinney

Consultation on a bill to introduce “radical” reforms to the education system has opened.

The Education (Scotland) Bill 2018 is intended to change the way schools are run with reforms including:

  • More freedom to make choices about curriculum, improvement, and funding at school level

  • More freedom for headteachers to choose school staff and management structure

  • New Regional Improvement Collaboratives to provide “streamlined and strengthened support to teachers”, drawing on experts from local authorities and Education Scotland

  • Strengthened engagement with young people and parents in schools.

    • Education Secretary, John Swinney, launched the consultation during a visit to the Royal High School in Edinburgh.He said: “There is already much to be celebrated within our education system but radical reform is required to make the improvements we all want to see. The consultation on the Education (Scotland) Bill will ensure that everyone with an interest in how our young people learn and develop will have an opportunity to contribute to the future of education in Scotland.

    “The reforms to be taken forward through the bill are all based on the presumption that decisions about children’s learning and school life should be taken at school level.

    “This is built on strong international evidence that empowered schools and engaged parents lead to a better education. I look forward to a constructive, informed and, no doubt, impassioned discussion around these proposals in the weeks to come.”

    Respond to the consultation here

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