The Scottish government has been accused of a “chaotic” approach to education policy after it emerged that the long-awaited Muir report would be published today - a day earlier than expected.
A ministerial statement and questions about the report were slotted into today’s Scottish Parliament schedule at the last minute, with a 30-minute slot given over to the Muir report at about 5.15pm today.
Professor Ken Muir’s report into reform of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and Education Scotland will be published at around the same time, a day earlier than previously planned.
Scottish Conservative education spokesperson Oliver Mundell said the approach was “chaotic” and “does nothing to build consensus and trust in Scottish education”. He highlighted the fact that only yesterday the SQA had once again been at the centre of controversy when teachers delivered a scathing assessment of new exam support materials.
The Muir report: proposals for the future of Scottish education
Education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville was due to make a statement to Parliament on the report on Thursday afternoon, but it emerged at lunchtime today that this had been moved to today at 5.15pm.
The SQA and Education Scotland are expected to be replaced, as part of the reforms, with a new qualifications body and a new education agency being established, as well as an independent inspectorate for Scottish education. They would become fully established in 2024.
The new qualifications body is provisionally being called “Qualifications Scotland”. The Muir report will recommend that it should include more representation from pupils, teachers and others within the education sector than has been the case with the SQA.
The Muir report is also expected to recommend the establishment of a national agency for Scottish education, including some aspects of the remit held by Education Scotland and the SQA’s accreditation functions.
A new standalone inspection body is expected to be established. Inspection is currently part of the remit of Education Scotland, which is also responsible for curriculum development.
After criticism of new SQA exam support materials that were mistakenly released on Monday night, Labour education spokesperson Michael Marra has had an urgent question accepted into this afternoon’s parliamentary business.
At about 5.10pm, just before Ms Somerville’s statement, he will ask if the Scottish government “will provide an update on SQA exam guidance, in light of reports of significant concern being raised across the sector, regarding the inconsistency and inadequacy of what has been provided”.
The SQA’s performance during the Covid pandemic has been criticised throughout, and led to the announcement last June that it would be replaced.
