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Teachers will be "empowered" to take the best decisions for their pupils in a major review of how schools are run in Scotland, John Swinney has said.

The education secretary has launched a consultation on the governance arrangements for schools, which could give them substantial new powers.

Mr Swinney said councils would remain democratically accountable for schools.

But he said the government's aim would be to give schools and head teachers as much power as possible.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she will make no excuses for the poor performance of Scottish schools in an international survey.

Scotland recorded its worst scores in the OECD's Pisa rankings in 2015.

Opposition politicians said Scotland was going "backwards" in reading, science and maths under the SNP.

Ms Sturgeon took responsibility for the results, which were "not good enough", but said they underlined the case for her educational reform plans.

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The first minister also defended the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) as "the right way forward" for Scottish schools in the face of criticism.

• Testing times for Scottish education
• Scotland 'not a star pupil'
• Look back on FMQs on Holyrood Live

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Scotland's schools have recorded their worst ever performance in an international survey of pupils.

Scotland's scores for maths, reading and science all declined in the latest set of Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) figures.

It was the first time since the tests began in 2000 that all three subject areas were classed as "average", with none "above average".

Education Secretary John Swinney said the results made uncomfortable reading.

He said they showed that "radical reform" was needed if Scotland's education system was to become world-class again.

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Mr Swinney says he knows some councils face problems with teacher recruitment.

The education secretary says there are new innovative routes into teaching being brought in.

He says the government will encourage more people to enter teaching.

Mr Swinney says he is committed to ensuring there are enough teachers with the right skills.

The education secretary says he wants teachers to have time to teach.

He says he wants teaching to be an attractive career choice.

He says he will take all necessary measures to reduce bureaucracy and lessen work loads. 

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Scottish schools could be given more power over their funding in measures announced by the Scottish government in June.

There are also plans to simplify the Curriculum for Excellence by January 2017 in the government's "blueprint" to improve education.

The Education Delivery Plan, external was unveiled by Deputy First Minister John Swinney.

Mr Swinney said the proposals would deliver a "world class education system" in Scotland.

He also told MSPs it would "substantially close" the attainment gap over the next five years and aimed to reduce the workload on teachers.

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Mr Swinney says there is much to be proud of in Scottish education and  he says the improvement plan reinforces the approach that is needed.

The education secretary says the improvement plan sets what needs to be done. 

Mr Swinney says 666 school buildings are in the top condition category.

He "very much welcomes the rise in teacher numbers", shown in the stats today.

The education secretary says the teacher pupil ration is largely being maintained.

Mr Swinney says significant improvements are required in some local authorities.

He encourages parents to look at the school data available. 

Education Secretary John Swinney says the statistics tell us there were 253 more full-time equivalent teachers than last year. 

Mr Swinney says, of that, 160 teachers were funded by the Scottish governments attainment fund.

He says the pupil-teacher ratio remains the same for the third consecutive year, in line with the Scottish government's agreement with local authorities.

Nationally, the number of teachers fell between 2010 and 2014 then stabilised.  

The number of teachers fell in 12 council areas, including in Highland and Dumfries and Galloway, although in both these regions the ratio of pupils to teachers was maintained at the same level.

In 12 council areas the ratio of pupils to teachers got worse in 2016, including in Edinburgh and Fife where teacher numbers had risen. 

  These were:  

• Aberdeen City
• Aberdeenshire
• Angus
• Dundee
• East Lothian
• Edinburgh
• Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
• Fife
• Moray
• Perth
• Shetland
• South Ayrshire

The government expects the ratio of pupils to teachers to be maintained, although BBC Scotland understands the councils will not face any financial sanctions.

Many councils have told BBC Scotland that they are finding it hard to fill some vacancies.

Recently the Scottish government unveiled a number of initiatives to try to encourage more people into teaching, and some local authorities have also launched their own initiatives.  

Twelve Scottish councils are employing fewer teachers than they were a year ago, according to the latest figures.

Across Scotland, teacher numbers were up for the first time in several years, with 51,000 employed in state schools in 2016.

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But in 12 local authorities the numbers fell, with the largest percentage drop in Moray, which has highlighted recruitment problems in the past.

Education Secretary John Swinney welcomed the overall increase.

The figures , externalwere among a fresh batch of important statistics being published on the state of the Scottish education system.

The ratio of pupils to teachers was maintained across Scotland but the average size of a class crept up slightly to 23.5 students.

• What's happening in your area?

Education Secretary John Swinney will now deliver a statement on the Scottish government's Improvement Plan for Education.

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Health Secretary Shona Robison says the government is working closely with the BMA to create a new primary care vision.

Mr Sarwar says the BMA GP survey shows 91% of GPs says the workload negatively affects patient care.

The Labour MSP calls on the health secretary to apologise to GPS.

Ms Robison says funding for GP's is increased and she says she announced £20m to help ease GP workload.

The health secretary says she recognises the pressures GPs are under which is why the government is trying so hard on the new contract.

Mr Sarwar says in real terms there has been a £1.6bn cut and he welcomes the reversal but it is not enough.

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More than 90% of Scottish GPs believe their rising workload has negatively affected patient care, a survey found.

Only 7% of the 900 doctors who took part in a BMA Scotland survey said the amount of time they had to see patients during consultations was adequate.

The group said GPs were under "immense pressure" due to an "unsustainable" and rising workload.

The Scottish government said it was "significantly increasing" the level of investment in primary care.

There have been warnings that Scotland is facing a shortfall of hundreds of family doctors, amid falling staff numbers.

The survey by the British Medical Association contacted a total of 900 professionals in Scotland, and 91% of them said their workload had "negatively impacted on the quality of care given to patients".

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar asks the Scottish government what its response is to the latest BMA GP survey.

Labour MSP Neil Findlay says the government need to call out companies like Amazon.

Mr Brown says he has done that by contacting Amazon and by putting these points to them.

Scottish Conservative MSP Dean Lockhart asks what's being done to make sure Amazon are complying with current employment laws.

Fair Work Secretary Keith Brown says the government has no powers in terms of employment law.