Smith: We must radically reform school management

Speaking about CoSLA's submission to the McCormac Review – which is assessing the 2001 McCrone deal for teachers – Liz Smith MSP, Scottish Conservative Education Spokesperson, said:

"The CoSLA submission must not be seen as an attack on teachers but as an attack on the system. It fully exposes the unacceptable tensions which currently exist between national and local government when it comes to looking after the best interests of the teaching profession.

"It is very clear that CoSLA feels it is in a financial and bureaucratic strait-jacket, with no scope for flexibility within school management and how local authorities implement teachers' pay and conditions. It also makes it clear that the current arrangements do not permit councils to deliver best value when it comes to education in our schools.

"Scottish Conservatives have been arguing for a long time that these constraints are damaging our schools and are the main reason why we cannot improve standards of attainment. CoSLA's submission only serves to confirm our view about the need for radical reform.

"If we do not address this fundamental issue within school management then the main driving force for change will be financial cutbacks rather than what is best for our teachers, parents and pupils."

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