Welcoming conference's support for a motion highlighting the achievements of the SNP Government in schools with Scotland turning a corner internationally, SNP Education Minister Adam Ingram said it was a record the SNP would contrast with the hypocrisy and negativity Labour had churned out over the past four years as they attempted to both talk and do down Scottish education.

Commenting Mr Ingram said:

"I welcome the passing of this motion as an example of how the SNP is focused on making Scotland's schools better for our pupils and teachers.

"There is much the SNP can be proud about in terms of what we have delivered for Scotland's schools, pupils, parents and teachers. It has been hard work but we have been focused on one fundamental aim - making Scotland smarter.

"However there much still to do and we are aiming to achieve even more.

"Far from the tales of doom and gloom the negative opposition have been attempting to spread, as they want to talk down the achievements of Scotland's teachers and pupils, the SNP has been delivering better results for our schools system.

"Recently we heard that the UK's national academy of science called for authorities south of the border to emulate the successes in the Scottish education system.

"Figures from the Programme for International Student Assessment also disproved the inaccurate myth peddled by the opposition in Scotland that Scotland is lagging behind educational performance south of the Border and showed we had turned a corner.

"Primary class sizes are at their lowest ever. We will have rebuilt or substantially refurbished 330 schools by the end of our term - far exceeding what the Labour party planned and what they claimed we would stop!

"The £6.8m Early Years Fund we have recently announced will build on the successful implementation of the Early Years Framework and increased nursery entitlement.

"These are achievements we are proud of and which we aim to build upon in the next term.

"Contrast that with the Labour party whose hypocrisy knows no bounds. They really do take people for fools which says everything about what they really think about education.

"Whilst they complain about falling teacher numbers it is their councils who are cutting teacher posts the most. And they think people won't notice that we have more than matched their school building programme.

"Their approach has been one of sabotage towards Scottish education rather than support.

"Our record and Labour's hypocrisy on this issue is a contrast we will take into the coming election to show why it is the SNP which has brought ideas, energy, enthusiasm and achievement to education. A positive attitude we aim to replicate for another four years so Scottish education improves and doesn't return to the days of Labour failure."

Notes

The motion as passed is as follows:

DELIVERING FOR SCOTLAND'S SCHOOLS

Conference supports the SNP Government's new £5m Early Years Fund, building on the successful implementation of the Early Years Framework and increased nursery entitlement. Conference notes that the continued emphasis on the earliest years is happening during a time of unprecedented pressure on budgets and believes that providing the right support in this crucial formative stage brings lifelong benefits. Conference welcomes the SNP Government's delivery of 330 schools rebuilt or substantially refurbished by the end of our term and a record low primary class size of 23.1. Conference reiterates its support for smaller class sizes as a vital way of improving the learning experience for children and young people. Conference notes the progress made by local authorities in delivering class sizes below 18 in Primary 1-3 now to over a fifth of pupils, and urges those councils who have refused to work towards this target to join SNP-led councils in delivering better education for Scotland's children.

Michael Russell MSP
Angela Constance MSP
Adam Ingram MSP