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.

Testing teachers must be at heart of schools return say Greens

Thu 16 Jul, 2020

Regular coronavirus testing must be available to teachers and other school staff as classes go back says Scottish Greens Education Spokesperson Ross Greer MSP.

Commenting on new Scottish Government guidance for schools, Mr Greer said:

“This new guidance shows that the ‘back to normal’ scenario outlined by the Education Secretary just a month ago isn’t going to happen anytime soon and, coming less than a month before pupils are due to return, raises a number of serious concerns.

£10m for theatres is only 'baby steps' to arts recovery

Fri 3 Jul, 2020

The Scottish Government’s £10m crisis fund for theatres and venues has been welcomed by the Scottish Greens, but much more will be needed to recover Scotland’s decimated culture sector.

Speaking ahead of a Scottish Greens live discussion with artists on the future of the sector, the party’s culture spokesperson Ross Greer said: “This funding is very welcome, but it will only buy venues more time, not prevent their closure entirely.

SQA confirm grades will be changed without consulting schools

Tue 30 Jun, 2020

The Scottish Qualifications Agency has admitted it will adjust student’s grades without consulting schools or publishing its methods, potentially failing pupils whose had been submitted a pass grade by their teacher.

In a letter to the Scottish parliament’s Education committee, SQA chief Fiona Roberston confirmed that the agency will moderate grades without any consultation with teachers, using a system which could see pupils marked up or down because of the past performances of their school, no matter how hard they have worked.

School Reopening: Letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Education

Ross Greer MSP Mon 29 Jun, 2020

To: John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education

29 June 2020

Dear John,

Measures to protect pupils and staff in schools

I am writing following your statement to Parliament on Tuesday 23^rd, announcing the Government’s intention that schools return full time and without social distancing on 11^th August. As I am sure you appreciate, it is vital that the appropriate measures are in place to ensure the health and safety of pupils, staff and the wider community.

Ross Greer: BAME risk assessments needed for school return

Fri 26 Jun, 2020

Councils should perform risk assessments on the return to school for Black and Minority Ethnic pupils and staff, the Scottish Greens have said.

The call comes after the Scottish Government advised health boards to conduct risk assessments for BAME staff.

After pressure from the Scottish Greens, on 9 June First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the establishment of an expert group to study the effects of Covid-19 on minority ethnic communities in Scotland.

Damning review of special needs education

Thu 25 Jun, 2020

A damning report on the state of additional support needs education in Scotland has been snuck out by the Scottish Government.

The review, led by Angela Morgan OBE, was published on Friday without any press announcement, with Education Secretary John Swinney telling Parliament’s Education Committee that the Government will respond to the report in the autumn.

Regular testing required for schools return

Tue 23 Jun, 2020

Following the Education Secretary’s confirmation this afternoon that he is supportive of Green proposals to regularly test school staff for Covid-19, Scottish Greens Education Spokesperson Ross Greer MSP said:

“A great number of people will be breathing a sigh of relief at the announcement that pupils will return to school full-time in August, but for teachers, school support staff and their families, the anxiety will now have dramatically increased.

Ross Greer comments on Braehead job losses

Tue 23 Jun, 2020

Responding to the news that Intu Braehead is facing administration, potentially putting thousands of jobs at risk, Scottish Greens West Scotland MSP Ross Greer said:

“This is devastating news for workers and their families. It will have a huge impact on the Renfrewshire and wider west of Scotland economy, and comes just a few weeks after Rolls Royce announced 700 job losses at its site literally just down the road.

Public health must be at forefront of schools return

Ross Greer MSP Sun 21 Jun, 2020

Prolonged school closures are harmful to children’s wellbeing and their educational attainment. This is something we’re all agreed on, as the Education Secretary himself has said.

Lack of clarity for councils on school return exposed

Fri 19 Jun, 2020

Councils have described mixed messages from the Scottish Government on the return to school in August as ‘demotivating’.

At Parliament’s education committee, leader of Inverclyde Council and co-chair of Scotland's Education Recovery Group, councillor Stephen McCabe suggested councils were surprised to hear blended learning plans described by the government as a "contingency" this week, and that there may be "a bit of demotivation on the back of that”.

McCabe also said the 2 metre rule would make full time schooling “impossible”.