In 2007 The Scottish Government introduced a National Performance Framework to underpin delivery against the government's agenda. Its latest 'refresh' was published in 2016. This framework provides a unified vision and quantifiable benchmarks against which future progress can be assessed in all areas of government. It indicates the key factors in the socio-political context influencing policy action in all areas, including education.
The National Performance Framework adopts an outcomes-focused approach to performance. Outcomes are defined in terms of real and meaningful improvements in public services and quality of life for people in Scotland. The approach focuses Government on the key long term challenges for Scotland and seeks to enable and encourage more effective partnership working right across the public sector and with stakeholders.
The whole of the public sector is expected to contribute to one overarching Purpose and all performance management systems are therefore aligned to a single, clear and consistent set of priorities.
The transition to an outcomes-based approach with delivery partners, including local government, leaves the detailed management of services to those who can best understand local priorities and tailor their resources and activities to address them, while the Scottish Government provides leadership and direction and focuses on strategic priorities.
Each part of the performance framework is directed towards, and contributes to, a single overarching Purpose:
"To focus government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing economic sustainable growth."
As part of the Government Economic Strategy, a set of high level Purpose targets was identified. These include specific benchmarks for sustainable economic growth and aim to ensure that growth is shared by all of Scotland. They are:
Economic Growth - Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
To raise the GDP growth rate to the UK level.
To match the growth rate of small independent European countries by 2017.
Productivity
To rank in the top quartile for productivity amongst our key trading partners in the OECD by 2017.
Participation
To maintain our position on labour market participation as the top performing UK country and to close the gap with the top five OECD countries.
Population
To match average European (EU15) population growth over the period from 2007 to 2017, supported by increased healthy life expectancy over this period.
Solidarity
To increase overall income and the proportion of income earned by the three lowest income deciles as a group by 2017.
Cohesion
To narrow the gap in participation between Scotland’s best and worst performing regions by 2017.
Sustainability
To reduce carbon emissions by 42% by 2020.
To reduce emissions by 80% by 2050.
Five Strategic Objectives support delivery of the overall Purpose:
These Strategic Objectives are supported by 16 national outcomes, which describe in more detail what the government wants to achieve over a ten year period. Progress on these outcomes will be measured through 50 more specific national indicators and targets. Members of the public can view government progress towards these targets at the 'Scotland Performs' website.
National policy for education and lifelong learning, to achieve the strategic objective "Smarter Scotland", is implemented by the Director-General Education and Justice and the Directorates and agencies within their responsibility.
In accordance with the Concordat between the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (see 1.2 Main Executive and Legislative Bodies - Local Authorities and Their Responsibilities), local authorities are also committed to pursuit of national educational strategy.
Among the national outcomes by which the Government’s performance will be measured the following are particularly relevant to educational policy:
The following more specific national indicators/targets particularly are also relevant:
There is indication of the pattern of expenditure in the following figure.
Expenditure on education and training:
|
2011-12 |
2012-13 |
2013-14 |
2014-15 |
2015-16 |
2016-17 |
|
|
Total expenditure on education and training (million £) |
7,703 |
7,651 |
7.599 |
7,691 |
7,990 |
8,162 |
|
Expenditure on education and training as a % of Scottish spending |
11.9% |
11.7% |
11.4% |
11.2% |
11.7% |
11.5% |
Source: Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland (Scottish Government, 2011-17).
These figures should be treated with caution as a basis for comparison with other countries. They refer to all education and training: it is not possible to break them down for different aspects of education.