Order!

We turn now to vote on SB243, in the name of the 21st Scottish Government. The question is whether this Parliament approves of the general principles of the Education (Scotland) Bill.

Education (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision for the integration of independent schools into the state education system; to reinstate the recognition of and provide a right to education in the Gaelic language; to prohibit police from being stationed in schools; to introduce financial education and life skills education to Personal and Social Education; to introduce a new qualification in filmmaking; to introduce a right to careers advice for school leavers and for candidates; and for connected purposes.

PART 1

INTEGRATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

1 Interpretation in Part 1

In this Part—

(1) "the 1980 Act" means the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (c. 44)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/44/section/135).

(2) "independent school" has the same meaning as in the 1980 Act.

2 Integration of independent schools into the state education system

(1) The Scottish Ministers shall set out a timetable for all independent schools to be converted into schools run by local authorities.

(a) No primary or secondary school in Scotland, including but not limited to converted schools, shall charge for tuition

(2) All independent schools must have been converted before the beginning of the 2028/29 academic year.

(3) The Scottish Ministers shall issue funds to independent schools with which to reimburse families who had previously paid fees.

(4) The Scottish Ministers shall increase the block grant given to councils in order to pay for converted schools.

3 Individual curriculae

(1) Notwithstanding subsection 3 of section 1, and subject to the other terms of the Individual Curriculae (Scotland) Act 2023 (asp 8), converted schools may apply for plans for individual curriculae.

(2) Should an individual curriculum not be arranged, converted schools shall follow the Curriculum for Excellence.

PART 2

GAELIC MEDIUM EDUCATION

4 Reinstatement of Gaelic Medium Education

(1) Subsection 3 of section 3 of the Languages (Official Status) and Gaelicisation (Repeal) (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 23) is hereby repealed, and section 1(5), sub-paragraphs (a)(iii) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (1980 c. 44 are hereby reinstated.

5 Right to Gaelic Medium Education

(1) Each child enrolled or to be enrolled as a primary or secondary student with a local authority shall have a right to GME/FTMG by the date the relevant provisions of this Act come into force.

(2) Should a local authority not be able to provide GME/FTMG, it shall provide free transport services, such as but not limited to minibuses, to ensure that GME/FTMG students are able to get to and from their schools in a timely manner.

(3) In this Section, "GME/FTMG" means education in the Gaelic language.

PART 3

POLICE OFFICERS IN SCHOOLS

6 Police Officers in Schools

(1) Police Scotland shall not station any more police officers in schools in Scotland after this Act comes into force.

(2) Police Scotland and local authorities as defined in section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 (1994 c. 39) shall remove all police officers currently stationed in schools in Scotland by one month after this Act comes into force.

(3) This Section does not affect the power of Police Scotland to have police officers in schools for a time not extending a week, or to have police officers respond to events in schools.

(4) In this Section, “stationed” and derivatives are defined as police officers being assigned to work in a school for a period longer than one week.

PART 4

NEW QUALIFICATION IN FILMMAKING, AND REFORM TO PSE

7 Filmmaking Qualification

(1) There shall be a qualification available at National 4, National 5, and Higher levels in filmmaking.

(2) The Scottish Qualifications Authority shall lay a plan of the exact provision for this course, including the method of examination, before one year after this Act comes into force.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), the Course shall cover—

(a) how films are created,

(b) cinematic techniques,

(c) basic techniques for screenwriting, and

(d) basic critical analysis skills, relating to films, including the skill of criticising candidates' own.

8 Financial Education and Life Skills in PSE

(1) PSE, both at BGE and post-BGE levels, shall cover the following, in addition to what is already covered—

(a) financial matters, including

(i) debit and credit cards,

(ii) effective budgeting,

(iii) debt,

(iv) benefits and pay, and

(v) taxation,

(b) motoring law and safe usage and navigation of public transport,

(c) human rights and rights of children,

(d) metacognition, i.e. information on how students can tailor their learning to work for them,

(e) tenant rights, and

(f) trade unions and workers' rights.

(2) In this section—

(a) "PSE" refers to personal and social education, and

(b) "BGE" and "post-BGE" refer to Broad General Education in secondary schools, i.e. S1 and S2; and the period of secondary education after that, respectively.

PART 5

CAREERS AND QUALIFICATIONS ADVICE

9 Qualifications Advice

(1) Each school shall, with assistance from the Body, provide advice to candidates for examinations at the following stages—

(a) no later than 1 month before courses are picked for National 4 and National 5 examinations, and

(b) no later than 1 month before courses are picked for Higher and Advanced Higher examinations.

10 Careers advice

(1) Every student in secondary education must receive adequate support from the Body in choosing careers pathways before they leave school.

(2) This advice shall be available from 1 year before the student intends to leave school, and until the student is 21 years of age, unless they are enrolled in a course at a university and college, or employed in full-time employment.

(3) Should a former student leave their course or job, the advice shall resume under the other conditions set out in subsection (2).

(4) The time period where careers advice may be received may be altered by the Scottish Ministers using regulations in the affirmative procedure.

11 Interpretation in Part 5

In this Part, "the Body" refers to Skills Development Scotland, a company registered in Scotland with company number SC202659, or any successors to this company.

PART 6

GENERAL

12 Commencement

This Act comes into force upon Royal Assent, with the exceptions of—

(1) Section 5, which comes into force at the beginning of the 2029/30 academic year, however it shall not apply to schooling in Orkney and Shetland, where it comes into force at the beginning of the 2031/32 academic year, and

(2) Part 4, which comes into force at the beginning of the 2024/25 academic year.

This bill was written by the Most Honourable Lady /u/model-avtron, Marchioness Hebrides LT CT PC MSP MLA MS, Tòiseach na h-Alba, on behalf of the 21st Scottish Government. Part 1 was inspired by the Integration of Education (Academies and Private Schools) Act 2022, and the list in section 7 was based off the list from the Integration of Education (Academies and Private Schools) Act 2022.

Link to S1 Debate

This vote will end with the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 17th of November.