The case for change

The Scottish Government (formerly the Scottish Executive) commissioned a report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) called Quality and Equity of Schooling in Scotland.

The report (published in 2007) suggested that Scotland performs at a consistently high standard in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Scotland also has one of the most equitable school systems among OECD countries.

However, the report also identified some major challenges for Scottish education. There are still continuing issues of inequality. Children from poorer communities and low socio-economic status homes are more likely than others to underachieve, while the gap associated with poverty and deprivation in local government areas appears to be very wide. The OECD identified particular concerns over inequalities in staying-on rates, participation in different academic levels of national courses and pass rates in those courses.

Like the HMIE report 'Improving Scottish Education', the OECD stressed that too many of Scotland's young people are leaving secondary education with minimal or no qualifications. The report also suggested that the Scottish qualifications system contains complexities which have accumulated over time and that young people have an 'uneven quality of learning experience in compulsory secondary education'. It recommended a bolder and broader approach to vocational studies in schools.

In setting out the challenges for Scottish education, the report also identified potential solutions. In particular, the OECD praised the 'breadth of vision and commitment to both high standards and social inclusiveness' of the Curriculum for Excellence programme.