Thursday November 12th 2026
West Lothian Civic Centre
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
West Lothian has issued a robust defence of local schools, calling on the Scottish Government to keep management of education local.
The motion presented to the Education Executive this week surprised opposition SNP group members but was broadly welcomed and backed by unions.
The EIS rep told the meeting the motion “didn’t go far enough”.
Executive Councillor for Education Councillor Andrew McGuire put forward the motion calling on the chief executive to respond to a national report published on the future of Scottish education in September.
The report compiled for the Scottish Government recommends the creation of Local Schools Authorities, which would assume statutory responsibility for school education.
Other governance recommendations include: Enhanced decision-making at school level. Clearer accountability arrangements. Stronger alignment between national agencies and local delivery structures.
Councillor McGuire’s motion called on the Executive “To express its concern regarding the limitations identified within the report particularly in relation to its evidence base, system-wide analysis and proposed governance reforms.”
It added concerns that the author of the report, a secondary school headteacher, did not focus on the wider experience of education and the “statutory functions of local government.”
The motion highlighted the council’s work in improving exam results and reducing the gap in attainment between wealthiest and poorest pupils, It also highlighted the investment in the education estate including the new high schools in Winchburgh and the rebuild and repair of schools affected by RAAC panels including the £35m spent to rebuild two thirds of St Kentigern’s Academy in Blackburn.
Calling on the council to defend its record in education in letters to the Scottish Government and parents the motion added: “the evidence available demonstrates that WLC as an Education Authority is highly successful and wholly competent in its current structure.”
SNP councillor Moira McKee-Shemilt raised a question about the “rhetoric” of the language and colleague councillor Andrew Miller asked for “more clarity”.
Councillor McGuire suggested an amendment was needed to debate the motion. None was presented and the motion was passed.
Heather Hughes, the local EIS rep, told the meeting: “I don’t think it goes far enough.”
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