HEADTEACHERS have questioned the wisdom of Scotland following the lead of countries such as Sweden and Finland in reforming the education system.

Neil Shaw, the new president of School Leaders’ Scotland (SLS), which represents secondary heads, said education here had its own unique problems to address.

The warning comes after the Scottish Government suggested councils wanting to improve schools should look to Sweden and Finland, which have performed well in international com- parisons.

Education Secretary Michael Russell said the Swedish model of free schools, which exist alongside state-run schools but are independently run, was one example worth further consideration. He also stressed the example of Finland, saying it may have lessons for Scotland.

But Mr Shaw said: “I am becoming weary of hearing about the success of the Finnish education system. Finland, along with other countries highlighted as successful by the recent report by the OECD, an international economic group, has much lower levels of social and financial inequality than Scotland. This would appear, given the research, to be a major factor in Finland’s success.

“Now it appears that levels of literacy, maths and science attainment in Sweden are falling as the Free Schools create a more disparate society.”