Lessons to be learnt from Brooklyn school - Sturgeon

SCHOOLS in Scotland’s poorest areas could learn lessons from Brooklyn in New York about raising standards, Nicola Sturgeon said today.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon sits with students while visiting a school in Brooklyn. Picture: Getty Images

The First Minister is in the US on a four-day trip and visited the Magnet School for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, along with New York’s head of education today.

Ms Sturgeon heard during her visit to the Brooklyn school, which has faced similar issues to schools in some of Scotland’s most disadvantaged areas, that the involvement of parents and the community had helped to raise standards across the city.

She was accompanied by Chancellor Carmen Farina, the Head of New York City Department of Education.

The First Minister said Scotland’s are already enjoying record exam results.

But she added: “There is always room for improvement, particularly in improving standards of literacy and numeracy and in how our most disadvantaged young people are supported to achieve success at school and beyond.

“I said when I launched the Scottish Attainment Challenge that we would look at and learn from successful models in Scotland, the UK and overseas to gain as much evidence and knowledge as we can on how best to drive up standards in Scotland.

“Coming to Brooklyn today and finding out about how schools which face similar issues to those in some of Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities have overcome their challenges will be vital as we move towards shaping a model that will work back home.”

Chancellor Fariña, the Head of New York Department of Education, added: “Our goal is to give every child an education that puts them on the path to college and meaningful careers - regardless of what neighbourhood they live in or obstacles they may face.

“So many educators, including Principal Davenport and her teachers at PS 307, are doing amazing work across the City to meet the unique needs of all our students. As a school system, we are committed to working collaboratively and sharing strong practices from teacher to teacher and school to school, and I am so pleased that we are now able to share some of the wonderful teaching and learning in our city with First Minister Sturgeon and the people of Scotland.”