Question reference: S5W-34469
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 11 January 2021
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Current status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 January 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding the date for the roll-out of the Dumfries and Galloway Virtual School.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not had direct discussions with Dumfries and Galloway Council, however Education Scotland, in its role as improvement agency for education, has been in contact with the Council in order to share information on progress with its Virtual School.
Education Scotland has confirmed its understanding is that the school covers both the Broad General Education and Senior Phase, that virtual teachers have been appointed to the school and that prior to the recent school closures the virtual school had been providing support to pupils who had been absent for Covid-19 related issues.
The responsibility for the school rests with the local authority, however Education Scotland will continue to liaise with the local authority as part of its role in providing improvement support across Scotland. Dumfries and Galloway Council, in common with other local authorities, can also access options via the National E-Learning Offer.
Further information can be obtained from the local authority.