Education (Scotland) Act 2016

2 National Improvement Framework

(1) The Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000 is amended as follows.

(2) After section 3B (inserted by section 1) insert—

“3C National Improvement Framework

(1) In pursuance of the duty imposed on them by section 3(1), the Scottish Ministers must prepare and publish a statement setting out strategic priorities and objectives in relation to school education (the “National Improvement Framework”).

(2) The Scottish Ministers must review each year the National Improvement Framework.

(3) In carrying out a review under subsection (2), the Scottish Ministers must—

(a) give the persons mentioned in subsection (4) an opportunity to express views on the National Improvement Framework, and

(b) have regard to any such views.

(4) The persons are—

(a) education authorities,

(b) persons appearing to the Scottish Ministers to be representative of teachers employed by education authorities for the provision of school education,

(c) such pupils who are being provided with school education as the Scottish Ministers think appropriate,

(d) such parents of pupils who are being provided with school education as the Scottish Ministers think appropriate.

(5) The Scottish Ministers must specify, in such manner as they may determine, the way in which they have complied with the duties imposed by subsection (3).

(6) If the Scottish Ministers wish to modify the National Improvement Framework following a review under subsection (2), they must prepare and publish a new National Improvement Framework which takes account of the modifications.

(7) In subsection (1), “school education” means school education directed as is described in section 2.

3D Carrying out of education authority’s duty under section 3(2)

(1) Subsection (2) applies where an education authority is carrying out the duty imposed on it by section 3(2) to endeavour to secure improvement in the quality of school education which is provided in the schools managed by it.

(2) The education authority must carry out the duty with a view to achieving the strategic priorities set out in the National Improvement Framework.”.

(3) Sections 4 (national priorities in education) and 5 (education authority’s annual statement of improvement objectives) are repealed.

(4) In section 58(1) (interpretation)—

(a) the definitions of “annual statement of education improvement objectives” and “national priorities in education” are repealed, and

(b) after the definition of “moveable property” insert—

• ““National Improvement Framework” has the meaning given by subsection (1) of section 3C; and includes (except in that subsection) a new National Improvement Framework published under subsection (6) of that section;”.