MINISTERS will be accused of failing pupils, teachers and parents by their handling of education.

The Scottish Labour Party will challenge the SNP on its record in schools, with education spokesman Iain Gray accusing the party of presiding over a “disastrous decade”.

The motion, which will be debated in Holyrood, says teachers have lost confidence in official bodies such as Education Scotland and the Scottish Qualifications Authority while international figures show a decline in reading, maths and science.

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Labour will also highlight falling staff levels and resources for schools, 
claiming that since the SNP came to power in 2007 teacher numbers have fallen by 4,000.

Mr Gray said: “First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said education would be her top priority, but it is becoming clearer by the day that a decade of SNP control has created an almighty mess.”

A Government spokesman said ministers were prioritising an ambitious programme of education reform.

He said: “Our £750 million Attainment Scotland Fund is helping pupils in areas with the highest concentrations of deprivation.

“Later this year, standardised assessment will start in schools so that we know in detail how our schools are performing.”