Education Questions - Part One Scottish Parliament

Question number one from Peter Chapman. Thank you, Presiding

Officer. Can I ask the Scottish Government what it's doing to ensure

remote schools are not at a disadvantage compared to schools in

urban areas. Presiding Officer, the Scottish Government's committed to

ensuring access to high quality education in rural and remote

communities and is taking steps to make sure that happens. In line with

the recommendations of the economies and rural education, in 2014, the

Scottish Government made amendments to the schools consootation Scotland

Act 2010 to provide additional protection for rural schools

including the establishment of a presumption against the closure of

rural schools, an additional consultation in the respect of the

likely impact on the community and the likely effect caused by

different travelling arrangements. The member will be aware local

authority funding distribution formula includes a number of

adjustments to ensure that remote and rural schools are not

disadvantaged compared to those in urban areas. Not north-east of

Scotland, there is a higher teacher vacancy rate and problems with

shortages. Maria Walker, Director of Education and children's services

for Aberdeenshire council described the current situation as "cruel".

She also said teacher recruitment is a constant worry. Northern Alliance

councils want varied routes into the profession and have had to ask

parents to help find qualified staff. What action will the Scottish

Government take to try to achieviate the problems experienced in

Aberdeenshire bearing in mind one in ten teacher training places go

unfilled. I've discussed this with Maria Walker. We have invited the

colleges of education to come forward with a range of different

groups which will improve the speed at which individuals can enter the

teaching profession, subject of course to the assurance of the

general teaching council that the requisite levels of quality are

achieved by the individuals who're pursuing the routes.

In addition to