National Parent Forum of Scotland

Scotland’s Next Steps in Education Reform

National bodies: qualifications and assessment

This week, the National Parent Forum of Scotland (NPFS) launched a survey to gather input from parents and carers across Scotland as a follow-up to conversations around education reform that have been ongoing throughout the last 12 months.

Have your say

This survey focuses on creating a new national body responsible for qualifications and assessment. It will remain open until Friday 8 December 2023.

Complete the NPFS survey

For background and further information, you can read the Scottish Government’s consultation paper on establishing a new qualifications body:

Education Bill provisions: consultation

You can also complete the official Scottish Government survey here:

Education Reform: A Consultation on the provisions of the Education Bill

Behaviour in Schools

9 June 2023: National Parent Forum of Scotland have received a number of comments in recent weeks regarding the rise in reports of concerning behaviour in our schools. They have launched a survey to gather real life experiences from parents across Scotland.

Feedback from this survey will be used to inform the NPFS contribution to the upcoming conversations around school behaviour with Scottish Government, as well as future policy discussions.

The survey will run until Thursday 22 June 2023. Please feel free to complete the survey multiple times to reflect the experiences of all the children/young people you care for, but please keep your feedback focussed on incidents during this school year – 2022-2023.

Complete the survey here

Learning Hours in Scottish Schools

Reminder – 23 May 2023: The Scottish Government has recently sent out a consultation paper for parents and carers asking for their opinion about the number of learning hours that should be set in law for young people in Scotland.

Prescribing the minimum annual number of learning hours: consultation

It is proposed that a specific number of hours of education should be provided by all local authorities in schools they have in their area. This will not include breaks, lunch or after school clubs. Currently in most schools, 950 hours of teaching time is provided in primary schools, and 1045 hours of teaching time in secondary schools.

Have your say

The National Parent Forum of Scotland has opened a survey to gather parent views on these proposals.

You can access the NPFS survey. The survey will be open until 26 May 2023 and the results will be shared with Scottish Government.

NPFS Learning Hours Survey

Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment: have your say

Updated 19 March 2023: The Scottish Government is carrying out an Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessments, led by Professor Louise Hayward.

Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessmen ts

Qualifications and Assessment review

The Qualifications and Assessment Review brings together ideas to modernise Scottish qualifications and assessments. This means that the new qualifications and assessments will be inclusive of all learners, while meeting the needs of employers, colleges and universities, and Scottish society.

Education – qualifications and assessment review: consultation

Phase One looked the vision and principles, and Phase Two explored options for a new approach to qualifications and assessment in Scotland.

In support of Phase Three a potential new model for qualifications and assessment in Scotland has been developed – the Scottish Diploma of Achievement.

Live online discussion 29 March

As part of the review process the National Parent Forum of Scotland (NPFS) and Connect are the gathering views of parents and carers.

Connect will be hosting a live online discussion for parents and carers with Professor Hayward on the new qualifications model.

Date: Wednesday 29 March 2023
Time: 7.30 – 9 pm

Places are free, but booking is essential.

Book your place now

Reforming Scottish Qualifications Parent/Carer Survey Launches

Connect and National Parent Forum Scotland have also published a survey for parents and carers to gather views on the proposed Model for Qualifications and Assessment.

The Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment: Phase Three Parent/Carer Survey

The survey is open until early April 2023.

Latest news from Connect

The March newsletter from Connect is also now available.

Connect Newsletter March 2023

National Parent Forum Scotland: strikes survey

23 February 2023: The National Parent Forum Scotland (NPFS) have opened a fresh survey for parents and carers across Scotland, to gather and assess views regarding the ongoing industrial action among teaching unions.

As the detail of strike action has changed, the NPFS are asking for follow-up opinions on this issue.

Complete the survey here

The survey is open until 5 pm on Monday 27 February.

Would you like to join a focus group to discuss the future of Education in Scotland?

24 November 2022: We have space for 50 parents/carers to join the National Discussion 7-9 pm Monday 28 November in the Library in Liberton High School.

For more details or to book your place email the National Parent Forum of Scotland.

Email the National Parent Forum of Scotland

There is more background on the National Discussion at the link below:

The National Discussion

The National Discussion focus group

The event is hosted by:

Stephen Kelly – Senior Education Officer, City of Edinburgh Council
Naomi Barton – Edinburgh Rep for National Parent Forum of Scotland

The 2 hour event will include 2 things:

an opportunity to hear about the vision for Education in Edinburgh and
participate in the National Discussion questions

Event details

Venue – Library, Liberton High School, Gilmerton Road, Edinburgh, EH17 7PT
Time – 7-9pm
Date – Monday 28 November 2022

If you are unable to attend but you want us to pass on your views, please email the National Parent Forum of Scotland.

Email the National Parent Forum of Scotland

National Parent Forum of Scotland events

18 November 2022: The National Parent Forum of Scotland has just announced some events that parents may be interested to attend.

All the info is available at the links below:

23 November 2022 – Review of Qualifications Focus Group for Gaelic Medium

24 November 2022 – Review of Qualifications Focus Group for Home Educators

28 November 2022 – Q & A Session about the Qualification Review

1 December 2022 – Review of Qualifications and Assessment of Focus Group for ASN

Updates from the National Parent Forum and Connect

Posted 8 October 2020

National Parent Forum

The National Parent Forum held its AGM on Saturday19 September 2020 and hosted a Q&A meeting with Depute First Minister John Swinney.

A report of the meeting is available on the Forum website

Read the latest newsletter from the National Parent Forum

Sessions for parents and parent groups from Connect

The October 2020 programme of free sessions for parents and parent groups from Connect (formerly the Scottish Parent Teacher Council) is now available.

Connect October programme

The calendar has full details of sessions and booking links. Places are free but booking is essential.

Sessions include:

Constitutions for Parent Councils/PTAs
Parent Councils – What’s Our Role Now
Social and Fundraising Events
Online Meetings and AGMs
Sharing Ideas and Plans

Connect has also conducted a survey asking about children’s experiences back at school. What’s changed? Are communications going well? Have blended learning plans been shared?

Read more news from Connect on their website.

Connect

Updates from the National Parent Forum of Scotland and City of Edinburgh Council

Posted 25 August 2020

National Parent Forum of Scotland

The latest newsletter from the National Parent Forum of Scotland is available.

National Parent of Scotland newsletter

There is an NPFS hosted Q&A Session with the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, on 10 September and information on the event and the link to email questions is in the attached newsletter.

City of Edinburgh Council NE/SE Locality Meetings

Edinburgh Council is running regular locality meetings (bringing secondary and primary school Parent Council reps from their cluster areas together with Council officials and Headteachers).

The first meeting was held on 4 August, and focussed on Health & Safety and Health & Wellbeing.

Back to school resilience – City of Edinburgh Council

The second meeting on 18 August focussed on Equalities, Equity and Inclusion and the minutes are now available.

Minutes of meeting 18 August 2020

The third meeting will focus on Teaching, Learning (including Digital) & Assessment and will take place on 9 September and the slides and links will be uploaded once available.