Scottish schools are not average. Poverty is holding us back

There is a major flaw in his article which needs to be addressed. In 1970 Basil Bernstein argued that “education cannot compensate for society”. Mr Maciver does not mention poverty, unlike his fellow columnist Cat Boyd writing on the same day ("Red Clydesiders wouldn’t recognise the Left of today", The Herald, August 11). When Tony Blair, and later Nicola Sturgeon, signalled that they wanted to be judged by their success in closing the attainment gap, they were undoubtedly sincere, but they clearly knew little about the link between education and poverty.

Scottish schools are not average... but they could do better. This will not be done by more tests and exams but by eradicating poverty and removing barriers which hold many pupils back from fulfilling their potential. High-stakes examinations are a huge part of the problem and I sincerely hope that the recent review of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) will result in approaches more in line with the Nordic countries and more recently, Singapore. In particular, we need to ensure that an algorithm which hold pupils back is a thing of the past.

I had the privilege of taking part in an Erasmus project in the mid-2000s in which schools from Norway, Finland, Sweden, Spain, and the Netherlands were involved. The aim was to share good practice in primary education and was led by Kirkhill Primary School in Aberdeen. Teachers, and in some cases pupils, visited each other’s establishments. It was an amazing three years and one of the key issues which emerged flies in the face of Scottish schools being average. Kirkhill was highly regarded. Not only was it a school which was closing the gap in its own community but it was doing so under difficult conditions. The primary schools in the Nordic countries had almost twice the number of teaching and support staff.

Scottish education is making progress. Early Years education is promoting outdoor learning and learning through play and is making the most of the philosophy behind Curriculum for Excellence. Secondary schools are hamstrung by the downward incrementalism of high-stakes exams. But what is clear is that Scottish education is in an upward trajectory and if we value the work teachers are doing, things will only get better.

Professor Brian Boyd, South Lanarkshire.

Read more: The big question for our schools is whether average is good enough

Let's not blame the parents

BRIAN Johnston’s throwaway remark that one of the main reasons for the attainment gap is “wealthier” parents are in a position to hire private tutors for their children is not only unfair, it’s also quite offensive.

In reality lots of ordinary people, including single parents, choose to go without certain things to pay for a tutor. The idea that they are part of the problem is ridiculous when compared to the real issues of bad housing, unemployment, social issues and many many more.

Let’s not start blaming parents who are trying to do the best for their children for goodness sake.

John Gilligan, Ayr.

Tax cuts are a false economy

AFTER the Second World War, our country had to rebuild and a new political consensus was born from the experience of those who had experienced the hardships of war.

At the forefront of their minds they placed the community by maintaining a balance and dividing line between public services and private enterprise, both of which march to the beat of different drums, the former operating for the benefit and betterment of the community, the latter for the creation of business and profits for the individual companies. However, they worked hand in glove. knowing only too well that they depended upon one another to fulfil their remits.

That political consensus was shattered by the insistent narrative of the monetarists and the privatisation brigade laying emphasis upon the small state, the lowering of taxation and the downsizing of public services, drawn into marching to the beat of the drum of private enterprise.

The era bringing the dismantling of that political consensus is now fast approaching its denouement, the entangling of the public services with the private enterprise mentality now too obviously having been shown up as a disastrous mistake.

If we want world-acclaimed public services, we need to realise that they must be paid for from the public purse, which means a generous taxation system as opposed to the current emphasis upon lower taxation to put more pounds into the pockets of individuals.

It is time politicians stood up and told the electorate the truth that we cannot continue with shrinking the budgets of public services to satisfy the needs of individuals with the promise of tax cuts putting a paltry few pounds extra into their hands when our public services are crying out for funds to serve the community properly.

Owing to the parlous state of healthcare in our country, individuals are taking out loans to pay for private healthcare because the waiting lists are so long and they need immediate attention. That is when the few extra pounds in our pockets from tax cuts are shown to be part of a false prospectus which merely promises fleeting satisfaction but impoverishes the community when the big calls have to be made.

Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs.

Irony of NHS staff shortage

THERE is a certain irony in the fact that the UK, which historically has staffed its health services by attracting precious resources from developing countries, now finds itself in a position where it is itself being denuded of these self-same resources because it is unable, or perhaps more accurately unwilling, to compete with the salaries and living standards in proper first world countries.

Cameron Crawford, Rothesay.

Read more: Indy backers must rue the day Alex Salmond stood down

The truth about the rape clause

DOROTHY Connor's letter about “Family Allowance”, as it was known at the time, which was not paid for the first child in a family, convinced me that the situation regarding benefits for children is being misunderstood at present. My simplified understanding is that Child Benefit (formerly Family Allowance) has no cap on the number of children for whom this benefit can be claimed. This rule differs for those on Universal Credit or Child Tax Credits. There is also a different rule for a parent earning more than £50,000 per annum.

I appreciate that headlines screaming “rape clause” have much more impact than merely clarifying the rules. A sad reflection on the way political debate is conducted in Scotland at present.

MJ Dunsmore, Kilmacolm.

Problems with the Greens

WELL may the SNP have cause to question its relationship with the Greens. To date their influence has been entirely negative.

They wish to limit activity in Scotland’s seas, which could lead to depopulation in coastal areas and Scotland’s islands, in addition to having an adverse effect on the entire economy of the UK; their proposed recycling scheme would cause economic harm to business, and they are adamant that Scots should replace their gas boilers with heat pumps even when it is argued that they do not even work properly.

It has become obvious to a great number of voters that their influence is disproportionate to their share of the poll. Yet another reason why we Scots need there to be a Holyrood election long before 2026.

Robert IG Scott, Ceres, Fife.

No laughing matter

NEIL Mackay asks: “Is anyone else sick to death of politicians at the Fringe?" (The Herald August 12). The answer is Yes and you can leave out “at the Fringe".

Michael Watson, Glasgow.

• I TOTALLY agree with Neil Mackay's criticism of the politicians appearing at the Fringe.

Much better to attend the hilarious rock musical Tony, which pulled no punches about the era of "President" Tony Blair's reign.

Plenty of laughs and a demolition of pompous politicians.

Ivor Matheson, Dumfries.