As Labour attacks Scottish Government over attainment gap, unions emphasise smaller class sizes
THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT came under pressure to turn its education programme more in the direction of systems in Scandinavia today (Friday 10 February).
Education and teaching unions made the call in response to the latest Sutton Trust report, which showed that the educational attainment gap between children from poorer and richer backgrounds was up to 31 months in some cases.
However, their tone was more measured than the criticism from Scottish Labour who yesterday (Thursday 9 February) chose to attack the Scottish Government for “sustained cuts to teachers and schools.”
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Speaking to CommonSpace about the reports findings Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), said: “The EIS is fully supportive of Scotland’s comprehensive education, the aim of which is to educate and support all children and young people, regardless of background or prior achievement, to flourish both cognitively and socially.
“But we are concerned, however, about the achievement gap that opens up for all children and young people as a result of poverty-related disadvantage and welcome the focus on closing this gap. This clearly has to happen within a framework of raising attainment for all and able pupils have a right to expect that they will be challenged and stretched also, achieving their full potential.
“Smaller classes, such as those in Scandinavia, adequate provision for children with additional support needs, and the provision of a sure start though high-quality nursery education, are key to ensuring the highest levels of achievement in school for all of our children and young people.”
This week the Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale damned the Scottish Government for the reduction of maths and science teachers by 826 since 2007.
The report showed that in science and maths the gap in attainment between poorer and richer children was highest in Scotland.
In 2007 there were 6,821 teachers in science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) subjects but this had dropped to 5,995 last year.
“Smaller classes, such as those in Scandinavia…are key to ensuring the highest levels of achievement in school for all of our children and young people.” Larry Flanagan
Commenting on Sutton Trust figures Scottish Labour’s education spokesperson Iain Gray said: “The SNP government should be ashamed of these figures. Nicola Sturgeon said education would be the defining priority of her government; she put her top minister in charge of it and has announced a stream of schemes but the gap between the richest and the poorest most able pupils is more than two and a half years.
“In Scotland today how much money you have means that, even for the ablest pupils, they can be two and a half years behind the richest pupils in key subjects like maths and science. That is a scandal and a ticking timebomb for our economy.”
According to the OECD, in secondary level education, the average class size across Scandinavian nations is 20 students or less. Data from 2015 Scottish Government survey showed that the average size of a Scottish primary class was 23.5 pupils. According to the Scottish Government, secondary class size information is not generally collected nationally.
In 2007 there were 6,821 teachers in science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) subjects but this had dropped to 5,995 last year.
When contacted the Scottish Government pointed to its new teacher recruitment and training drive that seeks to focus on retaining and increasing the number of teachers who cover Stem subjects.
John Swinney, education and skills secretary said: “Teaching is a highly rewarding and inspiring career with opportunities for creativity and autonomy and, crucially, to make a positive difference to children’s lives. However, it is often overlooked as a career choice by the 20,000 or so STEM undergraduates who qualify from Scottish universities each year.
“This campaign seeks to change this, by targeting undergraduates and having a strong presence at careers events and on campuses across the country.
Picture courtesy of Scottish Government
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