Scotland
The latest news, analysis, investigations and professional advice covering everything to do with the schools sector in Scotland
Friday
7th Feb 2025
EIS reveals first day of teacher strike action in Glasgow
Most schools in Scotland’s biggest local authority expected to close when teachers and other education professionals take strike action later this month
Call for ‘meaningful alternatives’ when families opt out of RME and RO
Secondary school leaders welcome plans for students to get more say over participation in religious and moral education, and religious observance – but say there is a ‘resources issue’
Thursday
6th Feb 2025
Gilruth pauses school ‘sex survey’ amid concerns over data availability
Education secretary has recognised the ‘strength of feeling’ over use of data from health and wellbeing census that asked upper secondary school students about sex and relationships
Dispute over class-contact time ‘appears inevitable’, says union
The Scottish government had promised to bring forward ‘firm proposals’ for cutting teacher class-contact time by Monday of this week, but that deadline has been missed
ADES president: What needs to change in Scottish education
President of the education directors’ body Laurence Findlay speaks exclusively to 91¶¶Òõ Scotland about council budget pressures, rural schools and recruiting the right teachers where they’re needed
Wednesday
5th Feb 2025
Decade of PEF impact to be revealed in the spring
The Pupil Equity Fund – designed to help close the ‘poverty-related attainment gap’ – should continue beyond 2026 elections, says education secretary, but she suggests changes will be needed
Could subject-specific professional learning revive languages in Scotland?
Languages in Scotland are at a ‘critical juncture’ and investment is needed in professional learning to boost their health in schools, say Lynne Jones and Fhiona Mackay
Why reflective practice is key to supporting pupils’ mental health
Providing teachers with safe, confidential and reflective spaces in school will improve pupils’ emotional wellbeing – as well as that of teachers themselves, says Fiona McFarlane
Tuesday
4th Feb 2025
Glasgow teachers vote for strike action over cuts
EIS members in Scotland’s largest local authority back strike action amid fears that cuts are already fuelling workload and damaging pupils’ prospects
Record numbers of Scottish pupils learning musical instruments
Almost one in 10 Scottish pupils are now learning an instrument, research shows, but councils are struggling to keep up with demand amid proposed budget cuts