Scottish Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur says there are elements of the OECD report that highlight positive trends, but also areas of cause for concern.

One example is literacy and numeracy, says Mr McArthur.

He says there is a recognition of the crucial area of the early years in later attainment.

Mr McArthur says that is why the Lib Dems prioritise early learning and childcare.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone welcomes the more hollistic approach of the Curriculum for Excellence and the commitment to the reduction in energy sapping bureaucracy for teachers. 

Ms Johnstone says the attainment gap persists, which can be driven by home and family drivers. 

She says 22.5% of children in our schools have additional support needs. 

The Green MSP says local authorities are facing "staggering cuts" and it is important additional support is delivered. 

Ms Johnstone says our colleges, and the people who work in them, are treated equitably. 

The OECD review, commissioned by the Scottish government, focused on the "broad general education" element of the curriculum up the age of 15 and found "much to be positive about", including;

• levels of academic achievement are above international averages in science and reading (as measured by the Programme for International Student Assessment, PISA) and close to average in maths
• achievement levels are spread relatively equally
• Scottish schools do very well on measures of social inclusion and mix. Immigrant children generally perform better than their non-immigrant peers
• a large majority of students feel positive about their school and teachers
• nine in 10 school leavers enter a "positive follow-up destination" and two thirds stay in education
• and teenage smoking and alcohol consumption have fallen and teachers say disruptive behaviour is in decline

Image source, Thinkstock

The review team also highlighted some "problems and challenges", including;

• a fifth of schools are rated only "satisfactory" and one in 10 is "weak or unsatisfactory"
• there have been declining relative and absolute achievement levels in maths
• recent data suggests there are smaller relative numbers of top reading performers among primary and secondary students - and large numbers of low performers in secondary schools.
• positive attitudes to school drop off sharply at secondary level
• and it said more should be done to improve assessment and tackle low performing schools.

Achievement in Scottish schools is above international averages - but the gap is narrowing, a review has found., external

Particular concerns were raised about maths where performance has fallen from high to average over the past decade.

The review of the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), external was undertaken by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Image source, Thinkstock

The international experts said CfE was at a "watershed moment" and changes could deliver a world class system.

For this watershed moment to be "take off point" there is a more ambitious theory of change neededOECD report

The curriculum has been operating in schools since 2010 and gives teachers more flexibility over what and how they teach.

Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon says her party will back the Scottish government motion and backs the call to make sure no child is left behind.

Ms Scanlon says she will not support the Labour amendment due to the call for a 50p tax rate and adds the Lib Dem opposition to national testing means she cannot support their amendment.  

In his amendment, Mr McArthur says he is deeply disappointed that the school census  showed that only 7.3% of two-year-olds were registered for early learning and childcare. 

He says this is well short of the 27% promised for this year by the Scottish government.

Image source, Thinkstock

The Lib Dem MSP welcomes the decision to dedicate more resources to tackling the attainment gap; however, he says the Attainment Scotland Fund will still make a difference only in selected areas.

He urges the Scottish government to introduce a pupil premium that targets funding at individual school-age children in need, wherever they may live.

The Lib Dem MSP says ministers picking postcodes for the attainment fund is not the way ahead.

Mr McArthur says that is why his party backs the introduction of a pupil premium.  

Scottish Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur uses his amendment to note the OECD's warnings about the risks associated with crude testing systems. 

Mr McArthur believes the Scottish government's plans to reintroduce national testing has the potential to lead to teaching to the test, high stakes testing, league tables and a system akin to that rightly abolished in 2003, which the SNP described as Thatcherite crass and cursory'. 

The Lib Dem MSP says national testing risks undermining the work of teachers and is incompatible with the spirit of the curriculum for excellence and, therefore, joins unions, individual teachers, parent teacher councils and parents in opposing this proposal. 

Mr McArthur recognises that improving early learning for those from the most deprived backgrounds is key to closing the attainment gap. 

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur says all too often those from disadvantaged backgrounds are unable to fulfill their potential.

Mr McArthur says clearly, closing the attainment gap, should not rest solely with the education system.

Image source, bbc

He says he has a problem about the SNP plans to reintroduce national testing in primary schools.   

Mr McArthur says he is sceptical this reintroduction will address the attainment gap.

Mr Gray says ways to broaden and raise attainment must be sought.

The Labour MSP says there must be honesty to admit that there are problems with the education system and there must be funding to address this.

Image source, Getty Images

  "Cuts and complacency will not do it."  

Scottish Labour MSP Iain Gray asks for the motion to be amended in order to commit the Scottish Government to introduce a 50p income tax rate on those who earn more than £150,000 per annum as soon as that power is available to it. 

Mr Gray asks the government to use these resources to provide Fair Start Funding, which would provide £1,000 per annum for every pupil with free school meal eligibility to be used at head teachers' discretion. 

The Scottish Labour MSP believes that a reform of the senior phase in secondary schools is now required to create a comprehensive education system encompassing schools, colleges, universities, the third sector and the workplace. 

He also calls for a resolution to the unintended consequences on both enrolment and attainment of the new national four and five qualifications.

Mr Gray says the OECD report says the attainment gap is increasing, measured by numeracy and literacy.

Image source, Thinkstock

The Labour MSP says the government's attainment fund looks more like a convenient instrument to fill the first minister's media grid, than a strategy.  

Scottish Labour MSP Iain Gray says after nine years in government for the SNP, there are now nearly 4,500 fewer teachers in our schools.

Mr Gray lists a number of problems with education from class sizes to educational attainment.

He says you cannot claim to be taking education forward if you are clawing back funding year on year.

The Labour MSP adds that to say you are supporting schools education while taking half a billion pounds from local government funding is not honest.

More details of plans to introduce standardised testing in Scotland's primary schools have been revealed.

Local authorities will be required to use new standardised assessments, in reading, writing and numeracy, in P1, P4, P7 and S3.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the raw data would not be made public.

Image source, Thinkstock

However, information would be published on the proportion of children reaching the expected standards in numeracy and literacy.

Some critics have raised concerns that the results could be used to draw up "league tables" for primary schools.

Teachers' unions, including the Educational Institute of Scotland, have been concerned about the possible unintended consequences of the assessments if the test results were used to produce unofficial league tables.

Ms Constance concludes says the OECD report says Curriculum for Excellence is at a "watershed moment".

The education secretary says the National Improvement Framework was launched last week. 

Ms Constance supports work to make the framework of the curriculum for excellence simpler for teachers, parents and carers, reducing bureaucracy and supporting a new sense of dynamism and energy. 

The education and lifelong learning secretary agrees with the OECD that the National Improvement Framework has the potential to provide a robust evidence base and that it will be a key means of driving work to close the attainment gap and strengthen formative assessment approaches. 

She also agrees Scotland has an opportunity to become a world leader in providing an integrated framework for evaluation and assessment. 

Ms Constance believes that action taken as a result of this report will help to reach the Scottish Government's goal of an excellent and equitable education system in which every young person across the country is able to achieve their full potential regardless of their family circumstances or the background that they are born into. 

Education Secretary Angela Constance says school have the freedom to adopt a curriculum relevant to children's needs, that builds on the teacher's talents, via Curriculum for Excellence.

Ms Constance says last year there were a record number of passes at higher and advance higher.

She says more students are staying on to 6th year and fewer are leaving with low or no passes.

The education secretary says the relationship with those not going to positive destinations and coming from low socioeconomic backgrounds is high. 

Education and Lifelong Learning Secretary Angela Constance uses her motion welcomes the OECD's review of Scottish education, published on 15 December 2015.

Ms Constance welcomes the findings of the review that much in the curriculum for excellence is positive, including the holistic approach, the four capacities, professional engagement, trust in teachers' professional judgement and enthusiasm for learning and teaching.  

The Cabinet Secretary for Education agrees that it paints a picture of a successful and effective school system, but one in which there are important areas for improvement

She acknowledges the recognition of the Scottish government's determination to focus on achieving both excellence and equity in the education system

Education will be central to the SNP's third term at Holyrood if it is re-elected in May, Scotland's first minister has told MSPs. 

Nicola Sturgeon believed it was vital to give young people the "best start". 

Image source, PA

In an address to the Scottish Parliament, she pledged plans to double government-funded childcare to 30 hours a week. 

Scotland's other political leaders also used the debate to set out their stalls ahead of the 2016 Holyrood elections.

Education Secretary Angela Constance leads a debate entitled 'Delivering a World Class Education System'.