Image source, Front Line Defenders

The Scottish government will now lead a debate entitles 'Reaffirming Scotland’s Support for Human Rights Defenders'.

The Scottish Human Rights Defender Fellowship offers human rights defenders working in difficult conditions temporary respite and an opportunity to undertake research, develop skills and build networks during a 3-month visit to Scotland.

Beginning in Autumn 2018, it is a partnership between the Scottish government and the University of Dundee, external, supported by campaign groups Front Line Defenders, external, Amnesty International, external, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, external and Beyond Borders Scotland, external.

Read more here. , external

Alex Cole-Hamilton says the SNP have spent the best part of a week celebrating stagnation and far fewer teachers than when it took office.

The Lib Dem MSP argues: "Teachers are at their wits end with this government."

He calls for the commissioning of "McCrone 2" to restore support in our classrooms.

The McCrone agreement, implemented in 2001, was brought in to modernise the profession.

Image source, bbc

Mr Swinney reiterates the government has managed to get teacher numbers to a 10 year high, despite austerity.

The education secretary insists the comprehensive pay deal for teachers related to pay and workload and was supported by a massive margin by the teachers' professional associations.

Green MSP Ross Greer says he is frustrated about obfuscation around the fact there are fewer teachers now than there were when the SNP came to power.

He goes on the seek an explanation for the fact S4 data shows the attainment gap is growing at five times the rate it is closing at S3.

The education secretary says 90% of young people are achieving level 3 in S3 and a growing number of people are achieving level 4 at S3 too.

He insists the government is determined to make sure that poverty is not a disadvantage at any state in the education system, and progress on this is being seen in more young people from deprived areas going to university.

Iain Gray says Scotland has one of the heaviest teacher workloads in the developed world.

The Scottish Labour education spokesperson points out the figures published today show that since 2007 there are 2,853 fewer teachers, average primary class sizes are bigger and the teacher pupil ratio has increased.

He asks the cabinet secretary to just be honest and admit the SNP record on education is fewer teachers and bigger class sizes.

Image source, bbc

Mr Swinney says Mr Gray has acknowledged there are more teachers in classrooms today, at a ten year high, despite austerity.

The education secretary insists much progress has been made on tackling teacher workload.

He argues it is welcome there are no longer 16,000 pupils in P1 classes of 26 or more, highlight this is down to 267.

Tory MSP Liz Smith welcomes acceptance that challenges remain in education policy.

She seeks an explanation on why the minister argues there is better school attainment data that we have ever had, which is at odds with views of education experts.

She urges the government to rejoin the TIMSS and PIRLS, external international measures.

Ms Smith also asks why there are fewer teachers now than when the SNP came to power and whether this has had a negative impact on subject choice.

Mr Swinney highlights the government continue to take part in PISA.

He says old surveys on education the government used to use highlighted issues in education, but not where problems lie, while new data gives a better picture of performance.

Austerity from the Conservative UK government has been a problem undermining public services, including teacher numbers, he argues.

Image source, Getty images

About 600,000 students in 79 countries took part in the Pisa research, conducted last year.

The Pisa testing system was set up in 2000 among countries from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The initials stand for Programme for International Student Assessment and is designed to examine how 15-year-olds can apply what they have learned in school to real life situations.

Pupils are asked to use their skills of reasoning, interpretation and problem solving rather than simply remembering facts.

The questions are designed to be "culturally neutral" so youngsters in particular countries are not at an unfair advantage or disadvantage.

Scotland's performance in all three subject areas ranks well behind where it stood in 2000.

Mr Swinney says independent statisticians says performance in maths and science is stable and he adds it must improve.

The education secretary adds performance in higher exam passes is improving.

He also says there are record numbers of people going into positive destinations, "but it is not job done".

The minister believes the direction of travel is the right one and he says now is the time to stay the course.

Image source, Getty Images

Last month a new report warned about the challenges around the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE),

The report from Professor Jim Scott of Dundee University says the CfE has had a "significant negative impact" on children's attainment.

In the chamber, Scottish Conservative education spokesperson Liz Smith told the chamber attainment in Highers had fallen for four years in a row.

John Swinney hit back refuting the claim the attainment gap was widening.

The education secretary argued the gap at Higher level had fallen every single year for the last eight years.

Labour's Iain Gray insisted the problems lay with the management and structures of the CfE, while Beatrice Wishart called on the government to "fix what is wrong" as she spoke for the Lib Dems.

Check it out the debate in more detail here.

Regarding the Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence levels data, Mr Swinney says it indicates we are moving in the right direction.

He accepts there is more progress to be made in maths, as demonstrated in the recent Pisa report.

The attainment gap has narrowed on most indicators, the education secretary adds, though accepts there is local variation.

The government will be working with local authority partners to improve this, he says.

An updated improvement framework and plan has been published today on addressing the attainment gap, he says.

Image source, bbc

Education Secretary John Swinney says the PISA data was published last week and this morning the 2018/19 achievement of CfE levels data, as well as the 2019 summary statistics for schools, was published.

Mr Swinney says the school census data published this morning shows the action being taken on teacher recruitment is working.

He says the data shows:

• teacher numbers have improved for the fourth year in a row
• the number of teachers in schools has risen by 288 to 52,247 in 2019
• there's a 10 year high in the number of teachers
• primary school teacher levels are at their highest level since 1980

The education secretary says teacher vacancies are also falling and the ratio of teachers to pupils is at its lowest since 2013.

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland has been given a mixed report in an important piece of international research on education.

The Pisa report, external measures the performance of 600,000 15-year-olds worldwide.

Since the last report, Scotland's performance in reading has improved but it declined in maths and science.

Education Secretary John Swinney welcomed the improvement in reading but said there were still challenges in science and maths.

• Pisa tests: UK rises in international school rankings
• Pisa rankings: Why Estonian pupils shine in global tests
• Read more here

Image source, GETTY IMAGES

Education Secretary John Swinney will now deliver a statement on Performance in Scottish education – the PISA 2018 Results, external and Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence levels: 2018-2019, external.

Image source, bbc

Alex Cole-Hamilton says it is very concerning that escalation to level 4 has been necessary and further escalation to level 5 may be necessary, he hopes further distress to families can be avoided.

The Lib Dem MSP asks if the cabinet secretary is concerned about communication between the health board and the Scottish government.

"I believe that we are already seeing improvements in terms of communication with the families," replies the health secretary.

Ms Freeman explains 71 detailed questions from the families have now received detailed answers.

She wants to see improvements embedded in the board so it does not require external expertise, calling for culture change.

The minister adds the board is very, very clear it must provide government, through the oversight board, with all the information it needs as dictated to by being at level 4.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone welcomes the fact terms of reference are being set for the public inquiry and that these these will be shared with and involve families.

What steps will the cabinet secretary take to consult parliament before finalising these terms, she asks.

The health secretary says she will come back to the chamber with the final terms of reference in January, after they have been agreed between herself and Lord Brodie.

She expresses concern that consulting parliament may prolong the process and instead offers to discuss the draft terms with party spokespeople for health after family views have been sought.

Image source, Kimberly Darroch

The health secretary replies she is not adding people to the board, rather bringing in external expertise to the work of government as the board is now at level 4.

Ms Freeman explains she is looking for all the evidence from the board and the experts will look at all of it.

External expertise from outside of Scotland is being brought in, she says.

Regarding Milly Main, she understands her death was not reported to the Crown Office or Procurator Fiscal and she has asked the board to have an early discussion with Milly's parents about this.

The case of Milly Main is particularly distressing as her mother found out about the part played by an infection in her death by reading the death certificate.

In terms of the most recent case, she will provide the answer if Ms Lennon can provide more information.

The mother of 10-year-old girl Milly Main, who died at the Glasgow children's hospital, claims she was "let down and lied to" by health officials.

Image source, bbc

Scottish Labour's health spokesperson Monica Lennon begins saying children have died when warnings have not been acted on.

Ms Lennon adds many families say they lost trust in the health board long ago and still do not feel fully informed.

She asks if the most recent reported child death is linked to hospital-acquired infection and if it has been reported to the Crown Office.

The Labour MSP also asks if the death of Milly Main has been reported to the Crown Office, going on to query why the cabinet secretary won't escalate the board to level 5.

Ms Freeman says blood tests continue as part of clinical treatment to monitor effectiveness.

Regarding the number of patients infected, she says the body of work she has set out will be looking at this on a case-by-case basis and will take time to answer.

This is why I have committed to coming back in January to update chamber and families, she states.

Tory MSP Miles Briggs agrees families deserve answers, but they have lost confidence in the health board and this government.

Nothing in this statement suggests they are in control of the hospital, he says.

Mr Briggs asks about blood tests of patients and also how many children do ministers now believe have been infected.

Image source, bbc

The health secretary says ordinarily the clinical lead for healthcare-acquired infections is the board's medical director.

However to begin to restore trust by taking significant additional steps, she has asked Professor Marion Bain to take over this responsibility within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

There will also be a senior clinician to review the infection data and validate it, who will be independent, she adds.

She says she met with the full board this morning and has been left in no doubt how seriously the government takes these issues and the safety of care, as well as the importance of transparency.

The health secretary pledges to update the parliament on the work of the oversight board next year.

The health secretary says she has met with a number of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde microbiology clinicians who have expressed concerns.

The insights from these clinicians have been helpful in shaping the response, she says, and she thanks them for their involvement.

Ms Freeman confirms individual families will be written to about the reviews and any who wish to be involved will be.