Mr Swinney says the quality of education children receive is still too variable.

The education says the best decisions about a child's education should be taken by those who know that child best; headteachers and teachers.

He says schools will have a range of new powers and be able to choose their own staff.

Mr Swinney says schools will also have better control over their finances.

GTCS Chief Executive Kenneth Muir welcomed the announcement, saying the body was "committed to offering new, flexible routes into teaching" while maintaining that it was "imperative that new teachers are properly qualified and registered".

The government has been consulting on a review of the education system, amid concerns over an attainment gap between pupils from different backgrounds and declining performance in international rankings.

Mr Swinney said the "simple plan" at the heart of his reforms was to "free our teachers to teach" and "put new powers in the hands of head teachers".

Image source, Thinkstock/PA

These new powers will be set out in a statutory charter for head teachers, and will include:

• responsibility for raising attainment and closing the poverty-related gap in schools
• choosing school staff and management structure
• deciding curriculum content, within a broad national framework
• direct control over more school funding, with a consultation on fair funding launched

Image source, bbc

Education Secretary John Swinney says the detail of the education reforms must be done in partnership with local government, teachers and parents.

Mr Swinney says he will create a Scottish Education Council to bring a cohesive approach to Scottish education.

He says there are many strengths in Scottish education and exam results are very good and improving.

The minister says there is still to much bureaucracy meaning to much work for teachers.

Here is the government motion.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, bbc

The Scottish government has set out "sweeping new powers" for schools as part of a shake-up of education.

Education Secretary John Swinney said his reforms were aimed at "freeing our teachers to teach".

The reforms will see head teachers take responsibility for closing the attainment gap, choosing school staff and deciding curriculum content.

They also aim to give schools more direct control over funding, with a consultation on fair funding launched.

There was a mixed response from opposition parties, who welcomed parts of the plan, but said others did not go far enough.

And local government organisation Cosla said the plan "erodes local democratic accountability".

• Read more here
• Look back on the education statement on Holyrood Live

Image source, Thinkstock

The Scottish government will now lead a debate on the next steps for Scotland's education governance

Ms Constance says ministers regularly meet local authorities and that Mr Stewart last met with the chief executive of the council on the 13 June.

Mr Lyly says there are concerns of the Holytown link road saying that "no one wants this road."

Ms Constance says the government would always encourage local authorities to listen to local people.

Image source, bbc

Social Security Secretary Angela Constance says the Queen's Speech was yet another wasted opportunity to make society fairer.

Ms Constance says there was no reduction to austerity or reversal of social security cuts.

She says: "The UK government is not interested in doing what is right."

The prime minister pledged to bring the United Kingdom "closer together" as her government unveiled its proposed new laws in the Queen's Speech.

The government said 19 of the 24 bills outlined in the speech will apply in whole or in part to Scotland.

And the Scottish secretary said there will "undoubtedly" be more powers devolved to Edinburgh after Brexit.

But opposition parties said the general election result meant the Conservatives have no mandate to govern.

The SNP claimed that Theresa May was a "lame duck prime minister leading a lame duck government".

And Scottish Labour said the speech had set out a "weak, vague and mean-spirited programme from a government in meltdown".

Ms May - who lost her majority in the snap election earlier this month - has been forced to either axe or delay a number of key manifesto plans.

• Read more here
• Queen's Speech: rolling live coverage
• Bill-by-bill guide: Queen's Speech
• Laura Kuenssberg: Queen's Speech reflects weaker May

SNP MSP Colin Beattie asks the Scottish government what its position is on the impact on Scotland of the equalities and social security aspects of proposals in the Queen's Speech.

Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman says the government have learned lessons from other systems, not least the UK government's "flawed" Universal Credit system.

Ms Evans asks for an update on Scotland's social security agency.

Ms Freeman says work is progressing on the new social security agency.

Image source, LUKASSEK

Legislation to set up a Scottish social security agency has been published.

Holyrood is taking on a range of welfare powers under the Scotland Act 2016, and is setting up a dedicated body to oversee them.

The Social Security (Scotland) Bill, external will give the Scottish government the power to deliver 11 benefits.

These include disability living allowance, personal independence payments, carer's allowances and winter fuel payments.

Social Security Secretary Angela Constance has announced the timetable for delivery of the first benefits to be devolved.

Under the plans, an increased carer's allowance would be payable from the summer of 2018, while the Best Start Grant, a replacement for the maternity grant to target child poverty, and the Funeral Expense Assistance grant would be paid from the summer of 2019.

SNP MSP Mairi Evans asks the Scottish government what action it is taking to ensure the safe and timely delivery of the first payments to be made under Scotland’s new social security system.

Green MSP Andy Wightman asks if all of the 50,000 homes will be newly built homes.

Mr Stewart says he will allow flexibility to local authorities where they want to buy back homes.

Image source, bbc

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart says for the first time each local authorities' allocation of funding for affordable housing for the next three years is being made public.

Mr Crawford asks what the government is going to do to make sure smaller construction companies get their fair share of the affordable housing work.

Mr Stewart says local authorities work in a transparent way which should allow small and medium enterprises to bid for procurement contracts.

SNP MSP Bruce Crawford asks the Scottish government what action it is taking to ensure that local authorities and the housebuilding sector can be confident that the goal of 50,000 new affordable homes by 2021 is reached.

Labour MSP Alex Rowley says there seems to be a lack of detailed information.

Mr Stewart says local authorities have provided the government with plans on schemes going forward.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart says the government understands the importance of good quality housing and it is investing £3bn in this.

Mr Stewart says this will see an increase in affordable housing in rural Scotland.

The housing minister says the government is protecting the existing stock of social housing by ending the right to buy scheme.

Mr Lockhart says additional houses will only be part of the solution and a more efficient planning process is required.

Mr Stewart says he is determined to ensure housing associations can build in areas that haven't had social housing for a number of years.