• Some pupils not being stretched (e.g. In Key Stage 4, students often spent time demonstrating existing skills rather than developing new ones.


• One fifth of secondary schools visited were not providing the statutory entitlement to ICT for those choosing not to pursue an ICT qualification at Key Stage 4.

The report believes it is up to school leaders to get ICT into more classrooms.

No change to current schools’ budgets



In his budget statement, Chancellor Alistair Darling announced that existing schools’ spending levels set out in the current Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) period 2008-2011, including programmes originating in the Children’s Plan, would be maintained.

An additional £655 million is to be spent on delivering the guarantee of a place in a school or college for 54,400 young people in 2009 and 2010. £650 million of this sum will be funded by efficiency savings agreed between the Treasury and the DCSF. The savings are part of the Treasury’s £15 billion of savings reported in the Treasury Operational Efficiency Programme and published alongside the Budget.

Mr Darling also announced additional capital funding of £300 million in the current CSR period to alleviate funding problems in the Building Colleges for the Future programme, administered by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

Advance capital funding for Scottish HE institutions



Scottish universities and Higher Education institutions have been allocated £20.5 million of accelerated capital funding, in response to the current economic conditions.

The devolved government in Scotland has brought forward planned capital spending to pay for improved buildings and facilities deemed important to the economy and growth.

Currently four college projects worth £185 million are in progress (Anniesland, Borders, Langside, Motherwell), with a further four college projects (Coatbridge, Dundee, Forth Valley, New Campus Glasgow Marine Skills Centre) worth £130 million due to start later this year.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has issued details to all institutions concerning their individual allocations under the accelerated capital spend of £7.5 million in 2008-09 and £13 million in 2009-10.