Ross Greer MSP

West of Scotland

External Affairs, Education & Skills, Culture & Media

Ross was Communities Co-ordinator at Yes Scotland, helping to develop the movement for independence. He is a member of Holyrood's European and Education committees. Ross is an active community campaigner on issues ranging from school closures to supermarket expansion and opportunities for young people. Upon election in May 2016 at the age of 21, Ross became the youngest MSP in the history of the Scottish Parliament. He was formerly a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament for Clydebank & MIilngavie constituency and led on the successful campaign to give 16 & 17 year olds the vote in the independence referendum.

Scottish Greens welcome inclusive education commitment

Thu 8 Nov, 2018

Today (8 November) the Scottish Greens, the first party to back the TIE campaign for LGBTI inclusive education in Scotland, welcomed the Government’s announcement that it would accept in full the recommendations of the LGBTI Inclusive Education Working Group’s report.

Ross Greer MSP, Scottish Green Spokesperson for Education, said:

Ross Greer demands action on school music tuition barriers

Wed 7 Nov, 2018

A Green MSP is demanding government action to stop musical instrument tuition becoming an exclusive activity after Holyrood’s education committee heard from a young person how skyrocketing charges are creating ‘Victorian’ levels of inequality in music.

Linlithgow Academy pupil and MSYP Alice Ferguson explained how her school band had lost members because pupils now have to pay £382 a year, Alice said, “It is only the privileged that are getting to do music now - it’s like Victorian times, where only the elite get these opportunities. This increases inequality”.

Greer urges action as bursary support for students falls 27.3% since 2008/9

Tue 30 Oct, 2018

The Scottish Greens are urging Scottish Ministers to take action after statistics published today (30 Oct) show that bursary support for students is down 27.3% since 2008/9.

Scot Gov approach to education is alienating teachers, support staff, parents & pupils

Ross Greer MSP Fri 26 Oct, 2018

This Saturday I will be marching with teachers calling for a fair pay deal. Over the last 10 years, teachers have seen a 20% real terms cut to their pay as inflation has degraded the value of their wages. Now they have decided that enough is enough. They are demanding some of that lost value is returned to them.

Greens launch priorities for education - SNP given report card

Wed 17 Oct, 2018

SNP ministers are being invited to “copy the Scottish Greens’ homework” on closing the educational attainment gap as the government’s agenda continues to flounder.

Green education spokesperson Ross Greer MSP issued SNP ministers with a report card highlighting the government’s education policy failures, contrasting this with his party’s alternative priorities such as restoring teachers’ pay, increasing Additional Support Needs provision and employing poverty advisers in schools.

Campaign to save Loch Lomond from controversial development receives boost

Mon 1 Oct, 2018

The campaign to save ancient woodland and public land on the shores of Loch Lomond from a controversial hotel and monorail development has received a major boost after over 20,000 objections were received in under a week via a website set up by Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer.

The submissions, to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority - the body that will decide whether to give planning permission – add to the 1,000 people who had already lodged an objection.

Greer welcomes judgement from Court of Session on Article 50 case

Fri 21 Sep, 2018

The Court of Session today issued an opinion in favour of a group of politicians, which means that they can ask the European Court of Justice to rule on whether Article 50 can be revoked, stopping Brexit.

The group includes Scottish Green MSPs Andy Wightman and Ross Greer, Labour MEPs David Martin and Catherine Stihler and SNP MEP Alyn Smith, and was represented by Aidan O’Neill QC and Elaine Motion of Balfour Manson law firm.

Ross Greer MSP, Europe spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, said:

Greens vote to scrap p1 standardised testing

Wed 19 Sep, 2018

The Standardised Testing of primary one pupils faces an uncertain future after Greens and other opposition parties at Holyrood voted to scrap them.

Ross Greer, the Scottish Greens’ education spokesperson says the Scottish Parliament can now be added to a long list of those calling on the method of testing to be stopped, a list including Scotland’s largest teaching union and education experts.

Education Secretary should ‘cut his losses’ & scrap standardised testing of five-year-olds

Wed 5 Sep, 2018

Education Secretary John Swinney was today (5 Sep) told by Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer MSP to ‘cut his losses’ and scrap the standardised testing of five-year-olds before the Scottish Parliament votes to instruct him to do so.

Careful consideration needs given to third consecutive drop in Higher passes

Tue 7 Aug, 2018

A 3rd annual drop in the Higher pass rate must be carefully monitored, Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer MSP warned today (7 Aug).

This year 76.8% of entries were marked at Grade C or above compared with 77% last year and 77.2% in 2016.

Ross Greer MSP said:

“Exam results don’t define you but we should congratulate the young people across Scotland who have achieved a lot today. At the same time, careful consideration needs given to this third consecutive drop in Higher passes and the potential of it becoming a trend.