Response To Education Reform Bill Consultation By Highland Council

16th December 2023

The Highland Council is supportive of the Scottish Government's Education Reform Bill, however the local authority stresses the need for adequate funding, resources and a focus on place-based solutions in the area to meet its vision.

Cllr John Finlayson, Education Chair said: "It is important that we look to the future of Scottish Education from a Highland perspective. Our response reflects the diversity of Highland by identifying the challenges and pressures that a large rural authority with some urban centres faces.

“The response also rightly highlights that any developments and solutions will need to be place-based to respond to the changing needs of children and young people, teachers and practitioners, and adult learners while also recognising that there is a significant additional cost to delivering educational experiences, inclusion, and equity in Highland."

Many schools in Highland are small, have composite classes, teaching takes place in English and Gaelic and provision covers early years to senior phase. Highland children and young people experience the same barriers to learning and achievement as other parts of Scotland but have additional challenges stemming from living in remote, rural, coastal and island communities.

The Council supports the introduction of personalised and flexible learning pathways which can be developed in Highland through dynamic collaborative partnerships between the public and private sector. This will require a local and context-specific approach and there will be additional delivery costs.

Cllr Finlayson continued: “These key areas, provide essential context to the response we intend to send into the Education Reform Consultation. I look forward to future discussions on this matter so we can continue our work to achieve better outcomes for our children and young people.”