1st September 2016 1:00
By Blue Tutors
The newly formed International Council of Education Advisors has met for the first time. The panel, made up of education experts from countries including Australia, the US, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Malaysia and the UK met with First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon just before the start of the new school year. Sturgeon set up the panel after her election to the Scottish parliament to look at the Scottish education system in a global context, in order to maintain its international excellence. During the two day event, the group met with many stakeholders, as well as visiting primary and secondary schools, and talking to teachers, students and parents.
Having a diverse group to advise on education strategy is important to ensure that Scottish education adheres to international best practice, and that countries can learn from each other’s experience. Although initiated by Scotland, the Ontario Education Commissioner Dr Avis Glaze said she thought Canada and Scotland would both gain valuable insight from such conversations. The first session focused mainly on outlining the scope and areas of focus of future discussions, highlighting three key areas as “capacity building in educational leadership and professional learning; building collaboration and collective responsibility in Scottish education; and what works educationally to close the equity gap”.
Following Canada’s lead, Scotland’s strategy for closing the attainment gap between children from lower and higher income families will focus on the pupils with poorer results. Prof Andy Hargreaves, who is also a member of the panel, believes that this will not only benefit those pupils themselves, but also the others in the class. He explained that having a wide range of abilities in one class, with several students struggling, is difficult for teachers and “holds all the kids back”. Reducing the gap between highest and lowest attaining children by bringing up the bottom allows teachers more time to stretch those at the top, ensuring the success of all young people, regardless of background and circumstances.