Scottish Government
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Excellence in education

In the future, all schools should be able to get the benefit from today's "Schools of Ambition", Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop said today.

Confirming that the Schools of Ambition scheme is to be supported with £11.5 million over the next three years, Ms Hyslop said:

"We are committed to improving the education of every single child in Scotland.

"Children come to school from a wide variety of backgrounds and they all deserve the best possible education to meet their individual needs and achieve their potential.

"We need to spread excellence across the whole school system. That way, lessons learned from the Schools of Ambition project can be put into practice across all schools so that all schools can be schools of ambition.

"I want to make our position clear. We are continuing to fund the 52 schools currently in the scheme - to the tune of £11.5 million in the current spending review period. This is record funding for the project - an increase of almost £1 million from the previous administration."

Ewan Hunter of the Hunter Foundation said:

"Having spoken to Fiona Hyslop, we're reassured the Government's plan to accelerate and expand the best practice from Schools of Ambition right across the system means we and they are getting the best from our respective investments. We look forward to working with the Government to announce the detail of what that best practice is, and how it will be embedded across the system.

"We remain keen to continue to work with the Government to support their wider efforts on education reform. And we're clear we're both working to the same agenda - improving positive, sustained outcomes for all children in Scottish schools."

Ms Hyslop continued:

"We are monitoring these schools' progress continuously and drawing out key learning that can be used by other schools in raising ambitions across Scotland. This process will begin at two national conferences being planned for June.

"We want every child to be able to benefit from the best possible education."

Under the Schools of Ambition programme, schools are supported through a three-year transformational programme, each receiving around £300,000 funding and additional support and challenge throughout. The schools are a mix of already high performing schools wanting to reach even higher, those that need to improve after poor inspection reports, and those that recognise they can move their performance up several gears.

Participating schools are encouraged and supported to share emerging learning with their immediate colleagues and are committed to sharing with the wider community.

A series of conferences, seminars and publications will be used to promote the lessons learned.

Related Information

http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/schoolsofambition/index.asp

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