Friday
How schools can tap into Scotland’s heritage and historic environment
Historic sites and archives provide a rich source of learning that extends right across the curriculum, says Craig Fletcher
Falkirk plans to cut pupil learning hours will not go ahead
Controversial plans to save money by reducing time pupils spend in school are shelved, in same week as Scottish government said councils had agreed to freeze learning hours
Thursday
FMQs: Tories attack Swinney over ‘collapse of discipline’ in Scottish schools
Opposition parties make education the focus of First Minister’s Questions, after week of concerns over teacher numbers and rising numbers of pupils with ASN
Higher history controversy underpins case for independent exam watchdog
The SQA investigated the drop in the Higher history pass rate this year because, as both the awarding body and regulator, it was its job – but should it be?
Wednesday
GTCS confirms rise in teachers’ annual registration fees
Series of rises in GTCS registration fees will amount to a 35% increase on the current level by 2027
Support is out there for ‘overwhelmed’ teachers
Three teachers behind a wellbeing group for educators in Scotland have noticed a ‘sharp increase’ in anxiety, stress and depression this school year
SQA data suggests falling levels of trust among school staff
SQA highlights improvements across most measures, but admits there’s ‘work to be done’ in ‘resetting’ relationships with teachers as it prepares to change into Qualifications Scotland
Tuesday
Gilruth vows to increase teacher numbers under new deal with councils
Councils to get extra £69m to restore teacher numbers to 2023 levels – pupil learning hours will also be frozen and teachers’ non-class contact time ‘rapidly’ progressed
Literacy and numeracy attainment remains steady in Scotland
Most primary and secondary pupils are hitting the expected level or better for their age and stage in literacy and numeracy, with Scottish government highlighting marginal gains
How teachers can help pupils with dysregulation at Christmas
The festive period in schools is ‘an assault course of changed routine and sensory overload’ for dysregulated pupils, says primary headteacher Grant Gillies
High rates of persistent pupil absence in Scottish schools
School attendance data shows slight improvement in persistent absence rates, but they remain at high levels compared with pre-Covid years
Number of teachers in Scottish primaries drops by over 600 in a year
Teacher numbers fell in 26 of Scotland’s 32 councils between 2023 and 2024 – with just 13 per cent of new primary teachers securing a permanent job by September
