Class size cuts 'not sufficient'

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Economic experts advising the Scottish government said they were "sceptical" that reducing class sizes was enough to improve teaching standards.

The comments came in the second annual report of the 11-strong Council of Economic Advisers, set up by First Minister Alex Salmond.

They called for the government to look at how the quality of teachers could be "prioritised" throughout the system.

The advisers also said ineffective teachers should "leave the profession".

School performance

The report said: "The council is sceptical that the simple objective of reducing class size, as a method of improving teaching, will prove sufficient."

Council chairman Sir George Mathewson, a former chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland, said that Scotland only holds the "middle ground" in school performance when compared with other OECD countries.

But spending was above average at primary and secondary level in Scotland.

"The challenge faced by Scotland relates to the effectiveness of resource use in education rather then the volume of spending," Sir George said.

The comments from the economic advisers came days after Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop left her post amid opposition pressure over the pledge to cut class sizes to 18 in early primary.

They highlight the need for a wide-ranging debate on the future of education in Scotland Liz SmithConservative

Scottish Labour said the SNP should "listen to their own advisors' plea for more support for teachers to improve teaching standards".

Labour's education spokesman Des McNulty said: "This shows the confusion in the Scottish government. Whilst the Council of Economic Advisors are calling for better trained teachers, the SNP are forcing cuts in budgets for continuing professional development and cuts in teacher training places at universities.

"The council also doubts the effectiveness of the SNP's class size pledge that ministers are failing so miserably to make happen."

Conservative schools spokeswoman Liz Smith said: "We agree wholeheartedly with these views, from a group set up by Alex Salmond.

"They highlight the need for a wide-ranging debate on the future of education in Scotland, especially the need for schools to have more of a say in how they are run.

"Conservative calls for more rigorous testing of the basic skills by the time pupils have reached the end of primary 7 - backed by the Scottish Parliament - must be implemented immediately."