In response to John Swinney’s statements on the state of Scottish education to the Education Committee and Parliament today, Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Tavish Scott MSP said:

“The SNP side-stepped the massive problems with education in the Programme for Government and have failed to convince anyone it’s their number one priority.

“After a decade in power they appear to have done a decade’s worth of damage. The Education Secretary needs to act urgently to give teachers a better deal, reassure parents and end the time-wasting practice of testing five-year-olds.”