Summary

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  • MSPs debated an LCM to the Scotland Bill before passing it as decision time

  • The Land Reform Bill was debated for the final time before being passed by MSPs

  • Education ministers were in the hot seats during portfolio questions

  • SNP MSP Mark McDonald led a debate highlighting Schools' Autism Awareness Week

  1. Future of Woodmill High Schoolpublished at 14:19 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    Ms Hilton asks what the government will do to replace Woodmill High School.

    Learning Minister Alasdair Allan

    Learning Minister Alasdair Allan says the support is there and there has been success in moving schools.

  2. Question on future provision of high schools in Dunfermlinepublished at 14:17 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    Labour MSP Cara Hilton asks what recent discussions the government has had with Fife Council regarding the future provision of high schools in Dunfermline.

    Labour MSP Cara Hilton
  3. Minister claims progress in narrowing attainment gappublished at 14:15 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    Quote Message

    A range of measures suggest we are making progress in narrowing the attainment gap in Scotland.

    Angela Constance, Education secretary

  4. Question on reducing the education attainment gappublished at 14:14 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    SNP MSP Colin Beattie asks what progress the government is making in reducing the education attainment gap. 

  5. Students' Association of the University of the West of Scotland's reportpublished at 14:11 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    Labour MSP Hanzala Malik asks the government what its position is on the Students' Association of the University of the West of Scotland's report,, external Establishing a Stronger Summer Safety Net: Promoting how we can raise retention in post 16 education.

    UWS
    Image caption,

    University of the West of Scotland's Hamilton campus

  6. 'Priority has to be on the resolution of the dispute'published at 14:10 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    Ms Constance says progress is being made on the issue.

    Claudia Beamish says she has serious concerns about students in further education around the forthcoming strikes.

    Education Secretary Angela Constance
    Image caption,

    Education Secretary Angela Constance

    The education secretary says the priority has to be on the resolution of the dispute.

    It is for employers to account for imposing a pay deal, she says.

    Ms Constance says she has been advised there has been constructive dialogue.

  7. Background: Scottish college lecturers announce strike datespublished at 14:08 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    Lecturers at further education colleges across Scotland have announced more details of a planned series of strikes. 

    Members of the EIS Further Education Lecturers' Association were already set to go on strike on Thursday next week. 

    Students in class

    The union has now confirmed it plans to hold two strikes the following week and more after Easter. 

    If the dispute is not settled, they plan to go on strike three days a week indefinitely from the last week of April onwards.

    The planned strike dates are here

  8. National pay negotiations in the college sectorpublished at 14:08 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    Labour MSP Claudia Beamish asks whether the government will provide an update on the national pay negotiations in the college sector.

  9. Minister says no diminution of widening accesspublished at 14:08 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    Ms Constance says she is very clear there must be no diminution of efforts by the Scottish Funding Council to widen access to higher education.

  10. Background: Scottish government's 'ambitious' plan to tackle attainment gap questionedpublished at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    In November a report questioned the Scottish government's ability to close the education attainment gap between rich and poor students. 

    The Commission on School Reform's challenge paper was concerned the plan was "exceptionally ambitious" and the timescale may be "unrealistic". 

    Classroom

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said improving attainment was a priority. 

    Her government has committed more than £100m to help schools in the most disadvantaged areas. 

    In September, it was announced that a new system of national testing was to be introduced in primary schools as part of her new programme for government. 

  11. SNP MSP asks about the education attainment gappublished at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    SNP MSP Jim Eadie asks what discussions the government has had with head teachers and other stakeholders on closing the education attainment gap. 

  12. Trouble getting physics teachers says Labour MSPpublished at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    Labour MSP Iain Gray says it is particularly difficult to recruit physics teachers and asks what the government is doing to address this.

    Labour MSP Iain Gray

    The education secretary says the government has looked at the bursary scheme for physics graduates down south.

    Ms Constance says the evidence from the scheme is less than conclusive.

  13. Minister says government has supported innovative teacher recruitment schemespublished at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    Education Secretary Angela Constance says the government has supported a number of innovative schemes to attract people into teaching. 

    Education Secretary Angela Constance
  14. Background: Funding boost for more trainee teacherspublished at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    The Scottish government announced that it is making more than £2m available to train an extra 260 teachers next year. 

    More places will also be made available at all of Scotland's teacher education universities. 

    Classroom

    The increase of 60 primary and 200 secondary student teacher places will bring the total intake next year to 3,490. 

    The government said it was the fifth consecutive annual increase. 

  15. Portfolio Questions beginspublished at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    SNP MSP Bruce Crawford asks the government what it is doing to recruit more teachers. 

  16. Portfolio questions will focus on education from 2pmpublished at 13:59 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    Welcome back to Holyrood Live's coverage of the Scottish Parliament on 16 March 2016.

    Portfolio questions will focus on education from 2pm.

    Pupils and teacher

    At 2.40pm this afternoon we will return to the amendment stage of the Land Reform Bill.

    Land hut

    The legislation will be debated for the final time, before being voted on at decision time at 7.30pm.

    SNP MSP Mark McDonald will then lead a debate entitled 'Schools' Autism Awareness Week'.

  17. That concludes the first session of amendments to the Land Reform Billpublished at 13:15 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    That concludes the first session of amendments to the Land Reform Bill.

    ScotlandImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    MSPs will continue to consider amendments to the Land Reform Bill this afternoon

    We'll be back with more amendments from 2.40pm, but before that we'll bring you portfolio questions.

    This week education ministers are in the hot seats. 

  18. Proprietors of land amendments are unanimously passedpublished at 13:10 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    MSPs unanimously back amendments relating to information about proprietors of land and the land register. 

    Chamber
  19. MSPs debate proprietors of land amendmentspublished at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    Legal Affairs Minister Paul Wheelhouse speaks to amendments relating to information about proprietors of land and the land register. 

  20. Green MSPs amendments relating to EU proprietorship are defeatedpublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    Green MSP Patrick Harvie sees his amendments, relating to EU proprietorship, defeated.

    Chamber