Strategic Board for Teacher Education: Meeting 27 Thursday 1 February 2024: 10.00AM – 11.30AM

Strategic Board for Teacher Education

Scottish Education Council update paper – 23.01.2024

1. This paper is to provide the SBTE with an update on the most recent meeting of the Scottish Education Council (SEC) which took place on the 15^th of November 2023. Some of the planned work mentioned at the meeting is now complete, and that is reflected in the note below.

2. Meetings of the Scottish Education Council are chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. More information on the remit and membership of the Council can be found in Annex A.

3. The following items were discussed at the meeting:

• Next steps regarding the future of the Scottish Education Council
  • The Chair mentioned that the meeting was likely to be the last meeting of the SEC in its current format and a formal letter will be issued to members in due course with further details on next steps regarding governance.
• Education and Skills Reform
  • The Chair provided an update following her statement to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 07 November which announced the launch of the consultation on the Education Bill. She highlighted other key announcements including the establishment of a Centre of Teaching Excellence, the two new governance groups (Ministerial Group and Education and Skills Reform Chief Executive Forum) and the funding around the Regional Improvement Collaboratives.
  • The timeline for next steps was also mentioned which included Mr Dey returning to Parliament before the end of 2023 to provide an update on the Government’s response to the Withers review, and a further debate early in the new year to consider the Hayward proposals.
• Behaviour and relationships in schools – feedback from the summits/next steps
  • Officials are currently gathering an evidence base around relationships and behaviour in schools. A series of summits was announced in May 2023 and, at the time of the meeting, two had taken place with a third planned in November 2023.
  • Officials are working with key partners to establish a joint action plan following publication of the BISSR research, drawing together all perspectives around key areas such as Additional Support for Learning, attendance, exclusions and relationships and behaviour.
• Plans for the 2024 National Improvement Framework and Improvement Plan
  • Officials highlighted that the annual statutory review of the NIF was underway and engagement had taken place with a number of stakeholders for their views. The main themes in the 2024 NIF are the work on relationships and behaviour and excellence in teaching. There is also a section highlighting next steps on reform.
• Colleges Scotland Short Life Sub Group Report Presentation
  • The Chief Executive of Colleges Scotland presented the report findings and recommendations from the Short Life Sub Group which focused on the following areas: delivering seamless transitions, college role in tackling the poverty-related attainment gap, supporting learners at risk of disengagement and language and perceptions.
• Forward look – forthcoming publications (ACEL, PISA, budget etc)
  • The SEC was told that the PISA data would be published on 5 December. The survey took place in 2022 and drew evidence from around 3500 students. The annual statistical publications such as ACEL data (Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels), teacher numbers, pupil numbers, attendance, absence and exclusions were also published on 12 December.
  • The Chair concluded this item with an update on the budget where there are financial challenges across the Scottish Government. As a result of that, we have had to identify savings this year across all portfolios to bring the overall budget towards balance.
• Update on the work of the Curriculum and Assessment Board
  • An update was provided on the work of the CAB. The group have reviewed the actions in relation to the OECD recommendations and that work will conclude shortly. The CAB also explored timetabling and school leaver attainment (specifically proposals to expand the scope of the statistics).
• Update on the work of the Strategic Board for Teacher Education
  • An update was provided on the work of the SBTE. The Board met for a whole day session in September 2023. Three workstreams were established on recruitment and retention of teachers (workforce planning and increasing diversity of the profession, the promotion of teaching as a valued career and the continuum of teacher education).
• Parental Involvement and Engagement
  • The Chair of NPFS stated her belief that engagement with parents and carers is lacking across Scotland. In the PIE census, it showed that parental engagement is higher in the primary sector but lower in the secondary sector. However, there is a need to improve our communication with parents in all sectoral areas.