NICOLA Sturgeon rejected Douglas Ross’s characterisation of the state of education in Scotland during a fiery FMQs clash.

The OECD report was published earlier this week, finding problems in the current education system and making a range of recommendations.

The OECD’s Beatriz Pont described Scotland’s education system as “really busy, and at risk of policy and institutional overload”.

Within the independent review it was found that the exams system for older students was not consistent with the Curriculum for Excellence’s ethos, there is a lack of full data for assessing school performance and there is a lack of clear leadership on development of the curriculum.

Shirley-Anne Somerville, the newly appointed Education Secretary, said she had accepted all 12 of the body’s recommendations – but added that the report is “crystal clear [that the] Curriculum for Excellent is the right approach for Scotland”.

The Scottish Tory leader challenged the First Minister on the report’s findings in Holyrood this afternoon, leading to a noisy clash between the pair.

Sturgeon said the OECD report is an important document but wanted to provide “some balance and some context” that was missing from the Scottish Tory claims.

“Everything I’m about to say now is quoting from the OECD report,” she told the chamber. “Curriculum for Excellent continues to be a bold and widely supported initiative. It is an inspiring example equated with good curriculum practice. Scotland is ranked among higher than average country performance on international assessments, usually scoring at or above OECD average on mathematics, reading and science. Education is a source of pride in Scotland.

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“So yes, there are challenges to be addressed. There are reforms that are needed. And this government will take them forward. But opposition leaders I think occasionally should recognise the strengths in the Scottish education system, for the benefit of young people across our country.”

The First Minister’s contribution won applause, with the Scottish Tory leader having to wait to be able to offer his response.

Ross fired back by accusing the First Minister of having kept the OECD report “in her drawer” over the election period – the Scottish Government has long rejected this attack line, reminding opposition parties that the OECD is an independent organisation with its own timetable for publication.

The MP and MSP accused Sturgeon of selectively taking quotes from the report, and criticised ministers for being unable to say with certainty whether traditional exams will take place next year.

The National:

“Let’s take a look at what Scotland’s experts are saying about this,” Ross told MSPs. “Keir Bloomer, who helped write the Curriculum for Excellence, said if the Government go too far we will see a fall in standards. And Edinburgh University professor Lindsay Patterson said –“

At this point in the debate, Ross paused as he heard heckles from the SNP benches. “I’m really sorry that the deputy first minister of Scotland and a Scottish Government minister are criticising an independent expert in education before I am even able to say … and John Swinney has the gall to nod his head … perhaps if he had listened to Lindsay Patterson he wouldn’t have been sacked as education secretary.”

Ross then quoted from the professor of educational policy, who had questioned whether a system reliant on coursework could “command public confidence”.

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The Scottish Tory leader reiterated his party’s support for traditional exams, saying they’re the “best way” for young people to demonstrate their knowledge. He asked the First Minister if she agreed.

“I agree that we have to get all of this right, and traditional exams absolutely – we have to consider their place in the future of qualifications very carefully," Sturgeon said. "No decisions have been taken around that. And one of the reasons no decisions have been taken around that is we’re awaiting a further report from the OECD in August, which will help to inform those decisions going forward.

“I don’t know if Douglas Ross was just unaware of that but there we go.”

The First Minister reminded Ross that her government has accepted all of the OECD recommendations, and attacked his claim that the publication was delayed through the election campaign.

The timing of the report was entirely a matter for the OECD, she said, and added that correspondence with the organisation had been put into the Scottish Parliament Information Centre to show members what had been discussed.

“Had we against the wishes – actually, I’ll put it stronger than that, against the instruction – of the OECD published the report anyway, then I’m sure the Conservatives would have been amongst the first to get to their feet to criticise us for going against an independent organisation.”