SINCE the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development published its most recent Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tables, results for science show that Scottish pupils fall below the international average.
Reading and maths in Scotland has declined, too, according to that report and education has become a political hot potato.
This week an inspection of Argyll and Bute council education authority, by HM Inspector Alistair Brown and his team working for Education Scotland, was highly critical of the executives and management by elected officials.