SNP’s education record a ‘mark of shame’, claims Davidson

Ruth Davidson has branded the SNP’s education record a “mark of shame” and ordered a major review into Scotland’s flagship education policy.

Keir Bloomer, the architect of the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), will examine how CfE, introduced by the previous Labour and Liberal Democrat administration, works in practice.

Sources close to the Scottish Conservative leader said they wanted to move to a new approach which puts teachers’ expertise ahead of the current child-centred approach.

Ms Davidson will tell the Scottish Conservative Conference in Glasgow today: “This SNP Government’s handling of our education system over the last decade in power has been shameful – and change needs to happen.

“Standards in reading, maths and science are all now getting worse, according to an international survey.

“Scotland does not perform above the international average in anything.

“What an absolute disgrace. What a mark of shame.”

She will insist, however, that there is no desire to scrap the system altogether, with the party instead looking to offer “practical recommendations” about how it could be improved.

Nicola Sturgeon says education is her top priority but has faced criticism for what opponents claim is a neglect of children’s learning in favour of pursuing a second independence referendum.

A spokesman for education secretary John Swinney said: “There already has been an independent review of Curriculum for Excellence carried out by the OECD – and not a hand-picked Tory Party commission – who considered it to be a bold and a successful reform that was delivering a broadened education experience for young people within Scotland.”

Standards in reading, maths and science are all now getting worse ... RUTH DAVIDSON MSP