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Seòmar agus comataidhean

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 15 July 2025
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Displaying 2406 contributions

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Education, Children and Young People Committee

Education Reform

Meeting date: 23 March 2022

Stephen Kerr

Thank you very much, Professor Muir. We move now to questions. I will start with some background questions, and I hope that we will benefit from hearing your answers. Why is the SQA broken beyond repair?

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Education Reform

Meeting date: 23 March 2022

Stephen Kerr

How far back do you think the issue has existed?

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Education Reform

Meeting date: 23 March 2022

Stephen Kerr

We need a genuine national discussion. That was a pretty strong endorsement of the first recommendation in the report, and I appreciate it.

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Education Reform

Meeting date: 23 March 2022

Stephen Kerr

Our session has gone on quite a bit longer than I promised, but our witnesses have given us a lot to think about. I thank you both for that and for your time this morning.

The public part of the meeting is now at an end.

11:47 Meeting continued in private until 12:18.  

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Education Reform

Meeting date: 23 March 2022

Stephen Kerr

You rightly point out that one of the concerns that has been expressed—you address it in your report—is that a new body should not be simply a rebranded SQA, given the issues that you have raised.

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Education Reform

Meeting date: 23 March 2022

Stephen Kerr

However, you would suggest that it would be a bad move to simply rehire the SQA’s existing senior leadership team for the new body, as that would undermine the confidence that people might have in the new body. Is that a fair comment?

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Interests

Meeting date: 9 March 2022

Stephen Kerr

Good morning, and welcome to the eighth meeting in 2022 of the Education, Children and Young People Committee.

We have received apologies from Ross Greer.

I welcome Graeme Dey, who is attending the committee for the first time as a committee substitute. Mr Dey, I invite you to declare any interests that are relevant to the remit of this committee.

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 9 March 2022

Stephen Kerr

The Scottish Private Nurseries Association got in touch with us and raised the questions that Fergus Ewing is seeking answers on. As the instrument is subject to the negative procedure, we do not have a minister before the committee. We have not had time to get a satisfactory answer to the questions, which raise entirely legitimate concerns on the part of the sector.

I propose that we write to the minister and seek clarification of those matters. We can then decide, before the appropriate deadline, how to proceed. Is the committee content with that approach?

Members indicated agreement.

09:17 Meeting suspended.  

09:18 On resuming—  

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 9 March 2022

Stephen Kerr

I turn to Stephanie Callaghan.

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 9 March 2022

Stephen Kerr

Why could we not have this discussion and put something on a shelf that we could later pull off the shelf when it was needed and allow Parliament at that moment to pass it? Parliament worked well during the pandemic. Those of us who were not in Parliament then were looking in, and we saw Parliament working well—collegiately and on a basis of collaboration. It worked. If we could now have the advantage of having something on the shelf that we could pull off the shelf when needed, why would the Government object to that? That seems sensible, and it would be in line with the recommendations of the Children and Young People’s Commissioner.