Last 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".

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said improving attainment was a priority.

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.

SNP MSP Tom Arthur asks the Scottish government what contribution music education can make towards closing the attainment gap.

We begin with portfolio questions as education ministers are quizzed.

Health Secretary Shona Robison will then deliver a statement on trauma centres.

The Scottish Conservatives will lead a debate on Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

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This will be followed by another Tory led debate on preventative health interventions.

Following decision time, Labour MSP Richard Leonard will lead this evening's member's debate which celebrates the 30th anniversary of the worker's occupation of the Caterpillar Plant in Tannochside.

Committee convener James Dornan thanks the witnesses and brings the session to a close.

We'll be back at 2pm with portfolio questions. 

Joanna Murphy from the National Parent Forum of Scotland says as a volunteer and as a parent the whole process passes her by.

Ms Murphy says it is telling that it is after 12pm that the committee gets round to parents

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Ms Murphy says: "Parents have a lot go give to this."

"We've been on the management board almost since it started."

However Ms Murphy says other parts of the education system parents are left out and left behind.

Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA) general secretary Seamus Searson calls for more representation of unions on the board.

Mr Searson says changes and improvements are being proposed in the middle of a recruitment crisis. 

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Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer asks if there has ever been an independent review of the management board of the Curriculum for Excellence.

Scottish government director of learning Fiona Robertson says the OECD review met with the C for E management board and received material from the board.

Ms Robertson says some of the issues of the mangagement board.

The education governance review also considers the board, she says.

Mr Greer says that sounds like no, but other reviews had touched on it.

That is fair says Ms Robertson

Greens MSP Ross Greer asks what expectation there is for learner involvement in decisions.

Scottish government's director of learning Fiona Robertson says the structure of the management board does not stop the learner voice coming through.

Ms Robertson says some of the wider work the government commits to, such as the youth parliament, also helps the learner voice come through.

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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.

• Testing times for Scottish education
• Scotland 'not a star pupil'
• Look back on John Swinney's statement on the Pisa scores on Holyrood Live
• Pisa tests: UK lags behind in global school rankings

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Education Institute of Scotland (EIS) general secretary Larry Flanagan says local authorities across Scotland have seen a lot of pedagogical support cut.   

The Education Committee report followed scrutiny of four key public bodies charged with developing and implementing education and skills policy - the SQA, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and Education Scotland.

It also raised concern about the recommended abolition of the SFC as part of moves to put all of the Scottish government's economic agencies under a single national board.

The report questioned the evidence for the change, and called on the Scottish government to carefully consider the impact abolishing the SFC board will have on higher education, including on widening access, before proceeding.

Scottish Qualifications Authority chief executive Dr Janet Brown says there are internally assessed units which are highly valued by parents and pupils.

She says the fact that they are marked on a pass/fail basis is a different discussion. 

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).

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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.

Read more here.

SNP MSP Richard Lochhead says there is a shortage of teachers and says this could jeopardize the delivery of the curriculum.

Mr Lochhead asks if splitting the responsibilities of Education Scotland could help with the teacher shortage.

Terry Lanagan from the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland says he is not sure how that would help with teacher recruitment.

Mr Lanagan says he would not see the division of Education Scotland helping with recruitment.

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott asks if the management board made recommendations to cabinet secretaries after meetings.

Scottish government's director of learning Fiona Robertson says it would depend on what was discussed but decisions have been made as a result of recommendations from the management board.  

Terry Lanagan from the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland says the OECD assessment of the Curriculum for Excellence was that all of the building blocks are there to make Scotland's education a world leader.

He says: "They made it clear we do not have everything in place yet."

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Tory MSP Liz Smith says there are crucial issues about whether in practice we are delivering for youngsters.

Terry Lanagan from the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland says in his experience schools are delivering more flexibility than they ever have.