Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS)

Each month topical news stories will be added to this section of the SCIS website.  Intended as a news round-up or digest of issues affecting schools in Scotland, topics will be wide ranging, including Curriculum for Excellence; primary/secondary transition; child protection; special education needs; early years; health and wellbeing; technology and new media; equality and diversity; funding issues and the destinations of school leavers. 

Articles will be taken from electronic news feeds and press releases from Scottish Government; Holyrood.com and Learning and Teaching Scotland amongst others.  

New degree introduced to enhance science teaching

A new degree programme designed to enhance science teaching in primary schools has been introduced by the University of Aberdeen.

HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE)

HMIE’s Annual Report for 2007-2008 is now available online

Freedom of Information

The prospect of extending the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act to cover more organisations carrying out certain public functions has been raised.

Investment in science

Scotland’s science centres are to receive additional funding of £250,000 this year in a bid to get more young people switched on to the world of physics, engineering and technology.

Improving protection for vulnerable people

A new vetting and barring scheme to strengthen protection for children and protected adults from those who would do them harm is to be implemented under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act.

Follow up of school leavers 2006-07

Scotland’s Chief Statistician has published statistics on the destinations of young people who left school in school year 2006-07.

School meals in Scotland, 2008

Scotland’s Chief Statistician has published a range of statistics relating to school meals in Scotland’s publicly funded schools.

Reduction in scrutiny bodies

The number of bodies scrutinising the delivery of public services will be reduced over time by 25 per cent, MSPs were told today in the Parliament

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Minister for Schools and Skills Maureen Watt has announced that John McCormick, the Chair of the Scottish Qualifications Authority, will be reappointed when his current term of appointment ends on August 31, 2008.

Healthy eating and active living

A new action plan targeting obesity, poor diet and the promotion of physical exercise was launched on June 22, with an additional £40 million of new funding to be provided over the next three years.

Food and drink in Scotland

The next steps towards the first National Policy for Food and Drink to boost the industry, support healthier and more environmentally sustainable choices and enhance Scotland’s reputation as a land of food and drink, have been announced.

Teacher Vacancies and Probationer Allocations 2008

Scotland’s Chief Statistician has published a range of statistics relating to teacher vacancies and probationer allocations in Scotland.

Copyright © SCIS 2008

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