What has happened to Scottish education?

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘Has Swinney had a good (re)start?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0030xdvDavid, Lynsey and former Alba Party adviser, Kirk Torrance, talk about Burnham’s indyref muddle; SNP Ministers confronting bad headlines; and Nicola Sturgeon teaming up with Michael Gove to take on Russia.Photo: PAScotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show is hosted by David Wallace Lockhart and Lynsey Bews.Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘Is the far-right behind the demos on our streets?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002yw1xPolice are treating a fire at a housing association tenement in Glasgow as deliberate amid social media claims it was being renovated for asylum seekers. We ask the BBC’s Chris Clements and Jen Gracie from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations who gets priority for social housing in Scotland – and why we’re not building enough homes. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler. Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘What is school for? - The Education Debate’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0ngbw3lThere has been a decline in attainment in maths and reading in Scotland, according to the Pisa international study of education standards in secondary schools. We ask the BBC's Lucy Adams and former headteacher John McGhee (pictured), Glasgow City Council’s director of education, why standards are falling. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler. Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘What will Burnham do about North Sea oil and gas?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002yvvyThe UK government is set to approve the Jackdaw gas field off the coast of Aberdeen, the BBC understands. We talk to the BBC’s James Cook and Paris Gourtsyannis about the environmental and political significance of allowing the project to go ahead. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller. Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Who hacked M&S’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002d80dJude McCorry (pictured) is chief executive of the Edinburgh-based Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland. She talks to us about 'ethical' hacking and the inside story of the cyber attack on car dealership Arnold Clark in 2022. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller. Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘Will the NHS shake-up end A&E ‘corridor care’? https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0030yhwDavid, Lynsey and Nicola Sturgeon’s former chief of staff Liz Lloyd talk about the Programme for Government; the SNP’s independence strategy; and why First Minister John Swinney (pictured) was concerned about Stephen Flynn's World Cup plans. Photo: PA Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show is hosted by David Wallace Lockhart and Lynsey Bews.

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘How to fix the NHS – The Health Debate’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0ndvclmIn his Programme for Government, First Minister John Swinney promised 'radical' reform of public services, including cutting the number of health boards. We ask A&E consultant Dr Jayne McLaren, vice-chair of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine in Scotland, whether NHS reform can help hospitals’ beleaguered emergency departments. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by John MacKay and Laura Miller. Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘How we'll avoid a food shortage’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00300w9Twenty-three organisations have written a joint-letter to John Swinney (pictured), urging the First Minister to scrap plans for a legal cap on some food and drink prices. We ask the BBC’s David Wallace Lockhart and Ewan MacDonald-Russell from the Scottish Retail Consortium whether the policy, a key pledge in the SNP's Holyrood 2026 election manifesto, is likely to be implemented. Photo: PAScotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by John MacKay. Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘Who’s to blame for Old Firm bedlam?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002sdxpRangers and Celtic will both play a game behind closed doors as punishment for the crowd trouble which marred a Scottish Cup tie between the clubs. The BBC’s Chris McLaughlin explains why the Scottish Football Association (SFA) imposed such a tough penalty. And we talk to former Celtic and Hibernian player Scott Allan about an SFA 'summit' on the future of Scottish football. Photo: PA Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by John MacKay. Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you might also like: 'Darren McGarvey on modern masculinity and Jason Arday' https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0030l83Crime writer Val McDermid and Geographer Royal for Scotland Jo Sharp (both pictured) have released their first co-authored book, 'This Door of the Seas'. They talk to us about the overlooked, but significant, period of Scottish history which inspired the novella. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler and Laura Miller in front of a live audience at the Edinburgh Festivals. Get in touch: [email protected]