McConnell takes US schools lesson

Jack McConnell on a visit to a school in the Bronx last year

High-achieving schools in the US are being toured by the first minister and chief inspector of schools to see if any lessons can be learned in Scotland.

Jack McConnell is using the week-long trip to look for tips and has launched a strategy to encourage more US citizens to visit and work in Scotland.

He is being joined by the head of business umbrella group CBI Scotland.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives said Mr McConnell should follow the US in seeking to cut business rates.

Mr McConnell said the delegation showed "how serious we are about improving our schools and growing the economy".

I want to see if they are doing something that we can learn from Jack McConnell First Minister

In the past, the first minister has visited a number of US schools in areas with high crime rates and social problems, which were using creative methods to address challenges.

However, this week he is touring schools at the top end of the spectrum in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington DC to see whether any practices could help improve Scotland's schools.

Mr McConnell, who will be accompanied by Graham Donaldson of HMIE, said Scotland already had one of the best education systems in the world.

However, he added: "I want to focus on high achieving schools that are stretching the brightest pupils in areas such as maths and science.

"I want to see if they are doing something that we can learn from.

"We want the best for Scotland's children but we also need to be sure that any reforms are workable in a Scottish context and improve upon what we already have."

Mr Donaldson said: "The strength of our education system is recognised and respected internationally, but we need to continue to improve and that means actively looking at best practice across the world."

We very much support the first minister's ambition to project modern Scotland in the world today Iain McMillan CBI Scotland

The first minister also used the visit to publish the Scottish Executive's US strategy.

It sets out targets relating to US tourists and encouraging more of its citizens to live and work in Scotland.

The "hard-edged" strategy pinpoints seven US states where Scotland will focus its efforts over the next five years.

Mr McConnell launched the document in California, one of the priority states.

Rates call

Iain McMillan, director of CBI Scotland, said: "We very much support the first minister's ambition to project modern Scotland in the world today.

"Our visit to businesses and schools in the US will serve that purpose well and open up new areas of co-operation and dialogue."

However, Scottish Conservative enterprise spokesman Murdo Fraser called for a new business strategy to attract business to Scotland.

He said: "America is renowned as a place where it is easy to do business because costs are low.

"This is in stark contrast to Scotland where business rates are still higher than in England, red tape is out of control and over 50% of the economy is still in the public sector."