SNP Leadership contest 2004

'Scotland has to think small to win big. It is much easier to train primary teachers, and indeed colleges of education are still turning away suitably qualified candidates.' Michael Russell, 14 th July 2004.

Smaller classes the big idea, says Russell

By Eleanor Cowie in the Herald, 14 th July 2004

MIKE Russell, the SNP leadership contender, yesterday called for smaller classes in primary schools to become the big idea for Scottish education.

He said the SNP must take the lead in education by advocating a six-year phased programme to cut primary school classes to 18 pupils.

Mr Russell's comments came as he launched part of his leadership manifesto at a press conference in Glasgow. The SNP's former shadow education minister, who is fighting Roseanna Cunningham and Nicola Sturgeon for the party leadership, called for a simplified primary curriculum, based on reading, writing and counting.

He said the radical primary education proposal would create 3115 new teachers at an annual cost of £115m. Mr Russell also called for the simplification of an over-engineered exam system. Scotland should also dare to be different, he said, by giving children a grounding in good citizenship as well as in Scottish, British, European and world history and culture.

Mr Russell said: "The SNP must now take the lead on education, promoting and fighting for its ideas. For the reality is this Ð it is only the effects of a dynamic education system that will give Scotland the confidence to move from dependence to independence. "The big idea for Scottish education must be smaller class sizes in primary years and a simplified curriculum."

Mr Russell claimed Labour's commitment to cutting class sizes for maths and English in the early secondary years had been a knee-jerk reaction to the SNP's more radical proposals. He added: "Scotland has to think small to win big. It is much easier to train primary teachers, and indeed colleges of education are still turning away suitably qualified candidates."

To reduce class sizes to 18 or lower in the first three primary years would require another 3115 teachers at a cost of £115m, phased in over six years. He said US research had shown remarkable economic benefits from smaller class sizes, equivalent to an economic rate of return of 5.5%.

Also yesterday, Ms Sturgeon launched her plans for tackling pensioner poverty saying it was essential to building a fairer Scotland. She said that, if elected, she would ask the party to commit itself to a reformed state pension system.