Seòmar agus comataidhean

Good morning. I am an MSP for South Scotland.

Thank you. Does anyone else want to come in?

Does anyone else want to come in?

Have they given any explanation at all of why there have not been any improvements?

It seems that the OECD’s report on its review of the curriculum for excellence has the potential to address many of the issues that the Auditor General raised. We understand that the Scottish Government has accepted the report’s recommendations in full, including the recommendation on improved data to deliver outcomes. In the absence of improved data, how is the Scottish Government addressing the educational outcomes of pupils who are currently in the senior phase of education and who will not benefit from future reforms?

On data and outcomes—about which our predecessor committee raised significant concerns—there is a recurring key audit theme about incomplete and poor-quality data, which prevents us from measuring the progress and success of a policy and whether it is delivering value for money. It is particularly frustrating that the impact of a lack of data was previously highlighted in Audit Scotland’s 2012 report, “Reducing reoffending in Scotland”. Are you aware of any improvements that have been made in that area over the past nine years?

Accountability seems to be a recurring theme in most of our meetings just now. Exhibit 2 of your briefing sets out the role of Community Justice Scotland and says that it oversees and reports on the performance of community justice services. It appears that, although the 30 community justice partnerships must provide information to Community Justice Scotland, individual partners remain accountable through their usual accountability arrangements. Can you tell us what powers Community Justice Scotland has as part of its overseeing role? Is it correct to say that, should there be an issue with any of the partners, Community Justice Scotland would have no power to take any action other than to report the issue to Scottish ministers?

My next question is on positive outcomes. What work has been done to reduce the 4.6 per cent of young people who leave with an unknown classification? Also, what is classed as a positive destination? Does it mean going to a job, getting on a course or getting a qualification? Is any workforce planning done to ensure that courses that young people take will provide a job at the end?

Thank you—I look forward to reading that report.

I have a couple of questions, so I will group them all together, and you can answer them all at the same time.

With major reform of the SQA and Education Scotland planned, how well do those Government agencies currently serve the needs of colleges? There seems to be a perception that they are very school focused. Do you feel that you get something of value from them? Do they really understand the challenges that you face? Have they supported the sector to respond flexibly to Covid? What changes, if any, would you like to be made?