International Council of Education Advisers

31 Aug 2016 01:27 PM

World education experts to hear from pupils and teachers during first meeting.

The world-leading experts selected to form Scotland’s new International Council of Education Advisers will meet for the first time today.

The panel members will join the First Minister and Deputy First Minister for two days of meetings and school and college visits in East Lothian and Edinburgh.

The panel will hear from pupils and teachers about their experiences in Scottish education, reflect on the findings of the recent OECD review, and discuss measures outlined in the government’s Education Delivery Plan to close the attainment gap and reform Scotland’s education system.

During a visit to Windygoul Primary School in Tranent, East Lothian where panel members met pupils and teachers, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“The ten members of the International Council of Education Advisers have extensive experience advising governments around the world on school improvement. Education is this Government’s top priority, and I am delighted to welcome the panel to Scotland to showcase the strengths of our education system and hear their thoughts on our plans for reform. 

“The Deputy First Minister has set out the actions we will take to substantially close the attainment gap and deliver a world-class education system in Scotland. The International Council will bring a global perspective to this work, scrutinising our plans against the backdrop of their substantial expertise and ensuring we learn lessons from other parts of the world.” 

Professor Andy Hargreaves added:

“As part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) team that reviewed Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence, I was very impressed with the richness and boldness of the Scottish curriculum, the confidence of Scottish learners, the professionalism of the country's teachers, and the collective will to do even better to provide equitable opportunities and outcomes for all young people.

“We are all are keenly aware that there is still more work to be done however and the International Council of Education Advisors will do everything it can to offer some of the best evidence and insights from around the world, and to give candid and constructive feedback on the government's own proposals and evolving directions.

“This a chance for all of us, together, to help Scotland lead the world in improving educational excellence and equity in ways that preserve and promote the richness of learning and the excitement of teaching.”

Notes To Editors

The panel members have extensive experience advising educators and governments on education leadership, school improvement and reform in countries including the US, Canada, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Malaysia, Australia and the UK. They will advise on the Scottish Government’s priorities for education and ensure the actions set out in its delivery plan are influenced by international best practice. 
During their two-day programme, the International Council of Education Advisers will:

• Meet teachers and pupils at Windygoul Primary School
• Hear an overview of Scotland’s education system; reflect on the findings of the recent OECD review and consider future improvements to Scottish education during their first formal meeting, to be chaired by the First Minister at Bute House on Wednesday
• Meet teachers, pupils and parents at Holy Rood RC High School 
• Consider the current equity gap, discuss the forthcoming governance review and agree future actions at a meeting to be chaired by the Deputy First Minister at Holy Rood RC High School. 

The members of the International Council of Education Advisers are:

• Dr Carol Campbell, Education Adviser to the Ontario Premier and Minister of Education and Associate Professor of Leadership and Educational Change at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. 
• Professor Chris Chapman, Chair of Educational Policy and Practice at the University of Glasgow and Senior Academic Adviser to the Scottish Attainment Challenge.
• Professor Graham Donaldson, Consultant and international adviser for OECD 
• Jayne-Anne Gadhia, Chief Executive of Virgin Money 
• Dr Avis Glaze, former Ontario Education Commissioner and Senior Adviser to the Minister for Education. 
• Professor Andy Hargreaves, Thomas More Brennan Chair in the Lynch School of Education at Boston College and a member of the OECD team that recently reviewed Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence. 
• Professor Alma Harris, Director of Educational Leadership at the University of Malaya.
• Dr Pak Tee Ng, Associate Dean, Leadership Learning, and Head of the Policy and Leadership Studies Academic Group at Singapore’s National Institute of Education. 
• Dr Pasi Sahlberg, former Director General of the Centre for International Mobility and Cooperation at Finland’s Ministry for Education and Culture, and a visiting Professor of Practice at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. 
• Dr Allison Skerrett, Associate Professor in Language and Literacy Studies at the University of Texas.