John Swinney: School closure impact statement

The Education Secretary addressed parliament this afternoon addressing the fall out of school closure

John Swinney addressed the Scottish Parliament on school closures.

The Scottish Government has addressed the impact of school closure today in parliament where they also announced the cancellation of exams.

This statement comes on the heels of the First Ministers speech that declared that all schools will be closed from the end of the week as a coronavirus precaution.

Education Secretary John Swinney explained: ‘In all of our history, Scotland has never cancelled the exams. Since 1888, they have been held every May or June without fail.

‘In the midst of two world wars, the exams went ahead.

‘It is a measure of the gravity of the challenge we now face, that I must today announce the exams will not go ahead this year.’

The qualifications will now be awarded based in previous coursework, teacher assessment and prior attainment, though results will still be handed out on August 4.

Mr Swinney continued: “In order for such an approach to be effective, the Scottish Qualifications Authority will require relevant units to be completed and coursework and teacher estimates of grades, to be submitted by the agreed deadlines, or indeed sooner where that is possible.”

The Education Secretary also addressed the issue of childcare for families now that schools have been closed.

He stated the importance of school buildings remaining flexible and potentially providing childcare for children of key workers, and to ensure that vulnerable families were fully supported throughout this pandemic.

This would include both school nurseries, and he hoped, private nurseries, who would be contacted by local authorities to make ‘plans for the provision of emergency childcare services to school aged children in their areas.’

Mr Swinney continued: ‘the First Minister guaranteed earlier today that Scottish Government will continue funding streams which allow contractual payments to private and third sector providers, including childminders, for statutory early learning and childcare hours to continue. This is worth around £220 million to the sector in the year ahead.’

He has claimed that a more detailed update of childcare support will be published in due course.

University and college students will continue to follow instructions set out by their institutions, but it was confirmed that the Student Award Agency Scotland (SAAS) would continue to fund students as before.

Students will be kept updated on any changes.

The Secretary reiterated the First Ministers words on when the education system would return to normal saying: ‘I understand that people will naturally want clarity on how long this will last for and when the education system will return to full provision. The truth is that, at this stage, we cannot know. People should not assume schools and nurseries will reopen after Easter – as the First Minister said yesterday, they may not be able to do so before the summer break. We will keep this under constant review.’

Mr Swinney expressed his thanks to all those teaching and non teaching staff across all schools and childcare.