James Mcenaney

Campaigners on the Isle of Mull are seeking a split-site school, with nursery and primary education remaining in Tobermory and secondary education relocated to a more central site such as Craignure. The current arrangement requires some children from southern Mull to stay in a hostel in Oban during the school week, contributing to family separation and depopulation. Argyll and Bute Council has pursued a single-site replacement and says funding rules and costs prevent a split-site approach, while campaigners argue the council failed to properly consider alternatives and that the Scottish Government’s funding model is not suitable for remote islands. Education Secretary Màiri McAllan’s invitation to a roundtable involving the council and local MSPs is presented as a potential breakthrough and an opportunity to restart the process through open, democratic engagement.

Glasgow Labour has asked SNP council leader Susan Aitken and education convener Christina Cannon to clarify whether the SNP administration supports Glasgow City Council’s pursuit of former Glasgow City Parents Group leader Leanne McGuire for £43,686.71 in legal expenses. McGuire unsuccessfully challenged the council’s proposed removal of around 450 teaching posts, although the cuts were later abandoned amid public and union opposition. Critics describe the expenses demand as cruel and potentially damaging to democratic scrutiny, while the council says recovery of court-awarded expenses is an operational matter handled by officers and that it remains open to a settlement directing funds to education. Neither the councillors nor the national SNP provided a direct response on the party’s position.

Skills Development Scotland’s free Results Helpline will operate from 4 to 7 August to advise students and families about exam results and next steps, including university, college, apprenticeships, employment, training and volunteering. Qualified advisers will provide impartial guidance to students whose grades are lower or higher than expected. A former student, Courtney, credits the service with helping her pursue sports coaching after disappointing results. Scottish Education Secretary Màiri McAllan and SDS representative Dave McCallum urged young people not to panic and stressed that exam results do not define their future.

Scotland’s current exam appeals process mainly checks for marking and administrative errors and does not allow students to submit other evidence showing that a grade fails to reflect their ability. Exceptional-circumstances reviews apply only to students affected by incidents around the time of an exam. The former system, abolished by the SQA in 2014, accepted alternative evidence and had a 48.2% success rate in 2013, despite claims that it was overwhelmed by frivolous appeals. The figures suggest the old system frequently corrected grades and that its removal may reflect discomfort with the limitations of relying on a single high-stakes exam.

Scotland’s standardized exam system is presented as fundamentally unequal because students sit identical tests under vastly different social and economic circumstances. The article argues that the cancellation of exams in 2020 sharply reduced the attainment gap, suggesting that broader assessments would be fairer. Proposed reforms include two-year courses, greater use of coursework and oral assessments, and a genuine appeals process. It concludes that meaningful change is being delayed, particularly by the SNP, because the existing system continues to advantage affluent families.

East Renfrewshire Council has confirmed that its Local Area Coordination service, delivered by Enable to support families of children and young people with complex additional support needs, will close on 30 August 2026. Families say the relationship-based service provides unique advocacy and practical assistance that proposed replacements will not match, and they accuse the council of inadequate communication and consultation. The council says the £160,000 budget will be reinvested in early-help, prevention and community-based services, including support developed with Neighbourhood Networks, and says individual transition plans and further engagement are being arranged.

A student initially penalised by Qualifications Scotland for alleged AI‑assisted cheating had their marks reinstated after an appeal revealed that the malpractice panel had not fully considered key evidence. The case prompted opposition politicians to demand a review of all sanctions related to AI use in coursework, arguing that inconsistent processes undermine trust in the exam system. Representatives from multiple political parties called for clearer procedures and fairer evaluation as AI becomes more prevalent in education, while the organisation and Scottish Government emphasised the importance of integrity and existing appeals mechanisms.

Scotland’s classification of additional support needs now covers a wide range of learning difficulties, disabilities and personal circumstances, contributing to a rise from 5% of pupils in 2007 to 43% in 2025. Social, emotional and behavioural difficulties are the most common category, while deafblindness and substance misuse are least common. Many categories have seen dramatic growth since 2012, especially mental health issues, bereavement, communication support needs and young carers. Most pupils with ASN remain in mainstream classrooms, but only a small proportion have formal support plans, and specialist ASN teacher numbers have declined significantly, particularly in primary schools, despite rising demand.

Dalry Secondary School in Dumfries and Galloway faces permanent closure despite strong local opposition, with residents arguing the council has allowed long-term decline and ignored alternative educational models that could support rural sustainability. Campaigners highlight evidence linking school closures to depopulation and accuse officials of prioritising short-term savings over community futures. Although earlier mothballing plans were halted, new recommendations have revived closure efforts, prompting concerns that losing the school would damage the viability of the Glenkens and set a worrying precedent for rural communities across Scotland.

Government data shows only limited expansion of Gaelic Medium Education in Scottish secondary schools, with subject options decreasing and most growth coming from short-term Gaelic Learners courses. Retention declines sharply after early secondary years, and teacher shortages remain the key barrier to progress. Bòrd na Gàidhlig and the Scottish Government acknowledge structural challenges, while school leaders highlight severe under‑resourcing. National bodies are considering expanding Gaelic‑medium qualifications and improving curriculum provision to address longstanding gaps.

East Renfrewshire Council was rebuked by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman for mishandling safety planning for a disabled pupil, including developing a risk assessment without adequate parental involvement, failing to justify the absence of a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan, and providing inaccurate information in complaint responses. The council issued a formal apology and committed to an action plan to improve consultation, documentation, and compliance with policy. The pupil’s family emphasised the significant impact of the failures and called for sustained changes to ensure proper involvement of parents in safety planning for children with additional support needs.

Charities warn that rapidly rising additional support needs in Scottish schools have outpaced available resources, leaving many pupils without essential specialist help. Government data shows significant variation in ASN rates, with some schools reporting extremely high levels while others report none. Audit Scotland and the EIS link inadequate planning and resourcing to wider challenges, including classroom aggression. The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition calls for major investment in specialist staff and early intervention to prevent poorer outcomes and increased pressure on public services. The Scottish Government says it is increasing ASN funding and working with councils to improve consistency and data recording through a national intervention model.