MSPs vote to 'reverse' Highlands and Islands Enterprise plans

Summary

The Education Committee take evidence on the Curriculum for Excellence, hearing from the chief executives of the SQA and Education Scotland.
In the chamber more education as John Swinney and his ministers will be quizzed.
Opposition party leaders quiz Shona Robison on the delayed trauma centres.
The Scottish Tories lead a debate calling for the retention of the HIE board.
The Tories then lead a debate on preventative health interventions.
Labour MSP Richard Leonard's member's debate celebrates the 30th anniversary of the worker's occupation of the Caterpillar Plant in Tannochside.

Live Reporting

Craig Hutchison and Colin Bell

'This is my priority and I have taken swift action'published at 14:36 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
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Education Secretary John Swinney
Education Secretary John Swinney say the Scottish government is attempting to address bureaucracy and teacher workload.
Mr Swinney says mandotary unit assessments have been removed to significantly reduce teacher workload.
Mr Cameron says teachers numbers have reduced and suffered anxiety due to workload and asks what will be done.
Mr Swinney say "this is my priority and I have taken swift action."
he says teachers must be adequately trained and supported and he takes great interest in the ENABLE research.
Background: Changes to qualifications and cuts to teacher workloadpublished at 14:34 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
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Scotland's teacher-marked assessments to be scrapped
Major changes are to be made to new school qualifications in a bid to cut teachers' workload.
The Scottish government plans to scrap some "unit assessments" which are marked by teachers before pupils sit their exams.
Instead final exams will be strengthened and externally marked coursework in some subjects will also contribute to students' grades.
National 5 courses will be altered next year and Higher courses in 2018.
Under the government's plans, some exams may now form 100% of the final mark. In other cases, the externally marked coursework may make up a significant proportion.
The move comes after Education Secretary John Swinney told teachers he was "absolutely committed" to reducing their workload earlier this year.p
Reducing teacher workload questionpublished at 14:32 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Tory MSP Donald Cameron asks what action the government is taking to reduce teacher workload.
Aberdeenshire Council's Education and Children's Services questionpublished at 14:31 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
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Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles
Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles ask the Scottish government when it will next meet representatives from Aberdeenshire Council's Education and Children's Services.
Scottish government commited to funding courses for EU students in 2017/18published at 14:30 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
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Further Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville
Further Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville says the Scottish government have made a commitment to EU students to continue to fund courses in 2017/18.
Ms Somerville says the lack of information from the UK government is making it difficult to make more of a commitment beyond that.
Mr Ruskell says clarity is needed by April because prospectuses are being drawn up.
Tuition fee support for EU students questionpublished at 14:29 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Green MSP Mark Ruskell asks the Scottish Government when it will announce a decision regarding tuition fee support for EU students applying for courses for 2018-19.
Skills review aims to bring greater cohesion and focuspublished at 14:28 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn says the government's skills review aims to bring greater cohesion and focus.
Mr Hepburn says Skills Development Scotland have taken strong leadership on this.
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Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn
Ms Hamilton says 69% of businesses are not confident about filling skilled roles in the future.
Mr Hepburn says the UK government introduced the Apprenticeship Levy without prior consultation.
He says the government have worked with businesses and stakeholders with plans.
Skills gap questionpublished at 14:24 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton asks the Scottish government what action it is taking to close the skills gap.
Colleges questionpublished at 14:24 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
SNP MSP John Mason asks the Scottish government what recent discussions it has had with Glasgow Colleges’ Regional Board and the City of Glasgow College regarding their relationship with each other.
98% of primary and secondary schools achieve two hours of P.E. per weekpublished at 14:24 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Education Secretary John Swinney says physical education can have a positive impact on health and movement.
Mr Balfour says some sporting activities are being charged for. .
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John Swinney and Jeremy Balfour
Mr Swinney says schools aim to provide two hours of P.E. per week and 98% of primary and secondary schools achieve this.
The education secretary says programmes like the Daily Mile help with physical education too
Physical education and the attainment gappublished at 14:19 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Conservative MSP Jeremy Balfour asks the Scottish government how physical education is helping to narrow the attainment gap.
Attainment Scotland Fund questionpublished at 14:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
SNP MSP Angus MacDonald asks the Scottish government what recent discussions it has had with Falkirk Council regarding the Attainment Scotland Fund.
Minister says he will reform of Education Scotland and SQApublished at 14:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Labour MSP Iain Gray asks if Mr Swinney agrees reform of Education Scotland and the SQA is required.
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Labour MSP Iain Gray
Mr Swinney says all of these issues will be a part of his consideration.
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Education Secretary John Swinney
He says, if there is as much concern over Scottish education, then it is right that hard questions should be asked of everybody including local government.
"That is where the performance of education is at its most acute," he says.
Government aims to reform education governance and empower teachers says Swinneypublished at 14:12 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Education Secretary John Swinney says the changes include a wide range of reforms.
Mr Swinney says it includes reforms to governance and aim to empower teachers.
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Tory MSP Ross Thomson quizzes John Swinney
Mr Thomson asks what the government really mean by greater autonomy.
Mr Swinney says the governance review has just been closed and is being considered.
He says the government is reviewing a range of views from stakeholders.
Background: Scottish schools drop in world rankingspublished at 14:09 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
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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.
Pisa results questionpublished at 14:08 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Conservative MSP Ross Thomson asks the Scottish government whether it will clarify what the Education and Skills secretary meant by "radical reform of Scotland's education system", following publication of the recent PISA results.
Anti-bullying strategy to be published in the spring of 2018published at 14:08 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
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Education Secretary John Swinney says the government has been working on an anti-bullying strategy with stakeholders.
Mr Swinney says he will look to publish the strategy in the spring of 2018.
He says work is underway to refresh bullying guidance and the government funds the Respect Me programme.
Background: LGBT bullying at 'high rate' in Scotland's schoolspublished at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
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The charity said strong leadership on LGBT bullying was needed from schools and local authorities
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pupils are still experiencing high rates of bullying in schools, according to campaigners.
LGBT Youth Scotland said the pupils were also not confident about reporting abuse to staff.
The charity called for strong leadership from schools and local authorities on the bullying.
The Scottish government said a new anti-bullying strategy had been developed with LGBT organisations.
Almost a quarter of Scottish children who contacted Childline about bullying in the past year were concerned with online abuse, figures show.
- Top tips to avoid cyber bullying
Tackling bullying guidancepublished at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
SNP MSP Richard Lyle asks when the Scottish government plans to publish updated guidance on tackling bullying.
Strong evidence that the medium of music can help improve numeracy and literacypublished at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
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Education Secretary John Swinney
Education Secretary John Swinney says the Curriculum for Excellence recognises the importance of music in enhancing pupil's creativity.
Mr Swinney says there is strong evidence that the medium of music can help improve numeracy and literacy.
Tory MSP Ross Thomson and Labour MSP Pauline McNeil both express concerns about the number of music teachers and fees being charged for music lessons.
Mr Swinney says the duty of every local authority is to provide adequate provision without fees.