As an amendment to motion S6M-06102 in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville (Excellence in Scottish Education), leave out from "recognises that, despite" to end and insert "regrets that the poverty-related attainment gap has widened for pupils sitting National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher exams in summer 2022 compared to results in 2021, and remains unacceptably wide; understands that the assessment model used had over double the impact on the poorest pupils, with the Higher pass rates among pupils from the 20% most deprived areas falling by 13%, compared to a 5.9% decrease in the 20% least deprived areas; notes with concern that the Scottish Government’s recent reform of the Scottish Attainment Challenge funding resulted in money being taken from Scotland’s most deprived communities, and amounts to pupils in the most deprived areas paying for extra investment in areas of less deprivation; believes that Scottish Attainment Challenge funding should be available to pupils in every local authority; considers that the Scottish Government has failed to grasp or sufficiently respond to the scale of lost learning during the pandemic; welcomes the Scottish Government’s launching of the National Discussion and the opportunity for everyone in Scotland to give their views on the future of education; believes that the views of all stakeholders including children, teachers, families, employers and business will be of particular value in informing the direction of education reform in Scotland, and ensuring the education system is enabling the country to reach its potential; believes that this process must address the issues that teachers, parents and experts have highlighted in recent years, in addition to considering the long-term resourcing of education and skills; acknowledges the need to deliver genuine reform in the education system; regrets the length of time being taken to enact reform, and calls on the Scottish Government to accelerate the process to ensure that the maximum number of young people can benefit from a reformed and high performing education system."
Result 51 for, 65 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote Vote Defeated
Scottish National Party
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Scottish Labour
Scottish Green Party
Scottish Liberal Democrats
No Party Affiliation
Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party, Date lodged: Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Supported by: Clare Haughey, Jamie Hepburn
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Thursday, September 29, 2022
Result 65 for, 50 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote Vote Passed
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date lodged: Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Thursday, September 29, 2022
Result 29 for, 64 against, 23 abstained, 13 did not vote Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Willie Rennie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date lodged: Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Thursday, September 29, 2022