Legislation could bring compensation culture to Scottish schools

A new controversial law in Scotland could see parents taking schools to court if their children do not perform well, a politician has warned.

Tavish Scott, the Liberal Democrats’ education spokesperson, said that new ideas to hold schools responsible for the academic performance of children could introduce a suing culture into the education system.

The Scottish government announced plans which place unprecedented legal responsibilities for the performance of pupils on the educational establishment.

Education Secretary John Swinney said he would introduce the new legislation next year which will see schools held directly accountable for the first time for “delivering education and raising standards”.

The current legislation only holds councils accountable for educating children to their fullest potential.

Mr Scott said: “One highly significant change is to extend the legal responsibility for educating children to schools which means parents will have a right to challenge their school on educational performance.

“If you are a parent and your son or daughter fails to pass one of the new tests the Scottish government is introducing then there could now be a legal right to challenge why.

“Was the teacher at fault? Did the local education department fail to provide the resources to ensure teachers were adequately supported in the classroom or have Scottish government cuts made the delivery of education worse?”

Mr Scott made comparisons with the healthcare rights written into legislation, resulting in a focus on targets rather than overall improvements within the health service.

He added: “In schools the same will happen. This will only reinforce the teaching profession’s view that professional judgment will become secondary to the achieving of targets at various ages. Is that the right way forward?”