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Angela Constance defends spending on Scottish education Scotland's classroom testing system to be re-examined, says Sturgeon
(about 3 hours later)
Scotland's Education Secretary Angela Constance has defended how much her government was spending on schools ahead of a keynote speech by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The system Scotland uses for the testing of pupils in the classroom will be re-examined, the country's first minister has pledged.
She told the BBC's Today programme that "despite austerity" there had been a 3% rise in spending. Nicola Sturgeon said there needed to be a "national improvement framework" as councils had different approaches.
Ms Sturgeon is due to outline plans to improve attainment levels of pupils. She believed an improved system would help lead to better pupil attainment.
Scottish Labour said there needed to be "bold changes" to improve education for the poorest children. Ahead of Ms Sturgeon's speech in Wester Hailes, Scottish Labour said there needed to be "bold changes" to improve education for the poorest children.
Speaking to broadcaster Jim Naughtie on Today, Ms Constance said: "We do know that the Scottish government, like local government, like every family in Scotland, has faced significant financial pressure as a result of austerity. The first minister promised that her government would "close completely" the attainment gap between poor and rich pupils.
"But the most recent figures show that local authorities have increased spending by 3%." She believed every young person should receive the "same advantages" that she did when growing up in Ayrshire.
The minister also defended teacher numbers in Scotland which have fallen by 4,000 since the SNP came to power in 2007. Ms Sturgeon said: "If they [pupils] have the talent and work hard enough, they can achieve their dreams.
Ms Constance recognised the drop but said since 2011 the numbers had stabilised. "This is a challenge for local government, the Scottish government and society as a whole, and I am determined that my government will show leadership."
Later Ms Sturgeon is due to tell a gathering at Wester Hailes Education Centre that the past eight years "had been tough" and had "created pressures" for the Scottish government, for local government "and for many families". However, Labour's Iain Gray said that despite eight years of an SNP government the "reality" was that pupils from richer backgrounds still performed "much better" than those from deprived areas.
But she will insist that Scotland has "made progress". 'Close the gap'
Counting skills
Ms Sturgeon is expected to say: "The introduction of curriculum for excellence has been a major step forward - and one which is attracting international attention. It gives teachers more flexibility, provides a broader education for young people, and sets higher standards for achievement than ever before.
"Five hundred and twenty schools have been rebuilt or refurbished since 2007. That's more than 1/5 of the school premises in the country; and it's 200 more than in the previous eight years.
"We've provided funding to maintain teacher numbers. In 2006, more than 15,000 primary one children were in classes of more than 25. Now, the figure is below 500."
However, Labour's Iain Gray said that despite eight years of an SNP government the "reality is" that pupils from richer backgrounds still performed "much better" than those from deprived areas.
He added: "It's just not right that three quarters of S2 pupils from the poorest backgrounds don't have the counting skills they need.He added: "It's just not right that three quarters of S2 pupils from the poorest backgrounds don't have the counting skills they need.
"A child starting high school this week will have spent every year of their education under the SNP government."A child starting high school this week will have spent every year of their education under the SNP government.
"Instead of yet another speech from the first minister, it's time the SNP government actually did something to close the gap between rich and poor in Scotland's schools.""Instead of yet another speech from the first minister, it's time the SNP government actually did something to close the gap between rich and poor in Scotland's schools."
On the subject of standardised assessments, Ms Sturgeon said that local authorities recognised their importance but because they used different systems it made it "much more difficult to get a clear and consistent picture of progress".
She added that she would provide greater detail in her legislative address to the Scottish Parliament in two weeks' time.
However, Ms Sturgeon said the basic purpose of the review was to: