Commission on School Reform
Watch Policy Director Ross Martin's BBC interview on the Commission's work.
In an interview with BBC Scotland Ross, who is advising the Commission on School Reform, said:
“The key aspect of the Commission is to identify where innovation is already happening in Scotland’s schools and to identify where we have moved away from the old template mentality of the bog standard comprehensive.
“[There is] a culture of compliance and complacency in our schools and this needs to be tacked”.
The Education Secretary rejected the claim that Scotland had bog standard schools but did acknowledge that “some schools aren't performing as well as they should and aren't ambitious enough”.
Misunderstanding Ross’ comments, Ann Ballinger, general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Schools Association, said
“The suggestion that teachers, pupils and parents are content to be bog standard is deeply offensive. I find it shocking that anyone can make this kind of comment…. without taking into account the enormous hard work that people across the country do to educate our young,"
Ross made it clear that some Scottish schools are already working hard to deliver a more innovative programme for pupils as illustrated by Glasgow’s Govan High.
The school has been offering pupils more vocational courses which have led to high numbers of pupils securing work after they leave school.
