Issue - meetings

Motion by Councillor Laidlaw - Publication of the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development Review of the Curriculum for Excellence

“Committee:

Notes that the Scottish Government has delayed publication of the review of the Scottish curriculum by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to June, despite confirmation from the OECD that a full draft has been submitted to the Scottish Government.

Recognises that a vote in the Scottish Parliament on 17 February calling for publication of this report was won by 65 votes to 58 with cross-party opposition support.

Notes that Dr Keir Bloomer, one of the architects of the Curriculum for Excellence, has stated publicly that, “The whole purpose of the OECD review was so that we can learn from the many, many mistakes which have been made in the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence. The sooner the report is in the public domain, the better.”

Recognises that this Council and its officers would benefit from seeing the findings of this review now as pupils return to school and to allow sufficient time to implement any recommendations that can addressed at a Local Authority level before the start of the next academic year; noting in particular the review’s remit to examine ‘The transition from the Broad General Education (BGE) into Senior Phase – considering how effectively S3 is being used as a transition year in preparing young people for the Senior Phase and the articulation between the BGE and Senior Phase.’

Formally notes its desire to see the interim report published immediately and instructs the Convener to write to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education John Swinney MSP to state this is the wish of the City of Edinburgh’s Education, Children and Families Committee.”