KINGLASSIE MP, Jenny Gilruth stressed the importance of education while been involved in a cross party delegation to America as part of the Scottish Opinion Leaders exchange programme, sponsored by the US State Department.

Ms Gilruth was joined by Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale; Scottish Conservative MSP for the North East, Ross Thomson; David Clegg, Assistant Editor of the Daily Record; Lang Banks Director of the World Wildlife Fund in Scotland, the First Minister's chief of staff, Liz Lloyd, and by David Ross, official spokesman to Kezia Dugdale.

As part of the Scottish delegation Ms Gilruth, MP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes, participated in meetings across the US, discussing education, immigration, and the implications of the Brexit vote for Scotland's future.

Ms Gilruth, who was appointed as the Deputy First Minister's Parliamentary Liaison Officer for education last month, was keen to highlight the shared challenges and opportunities presented by education in both countries.

Commenting she said: "Closing the attainment gap between the poorest and the wealthiest pupils is an ambition for both Scotland and for the US.

"It was interesting to find out about the different approaches to school funding in America, the ways in which assessment informs teacher judgement and how the states across the US contextualise the curriculum at a local level".

Earlier this month the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education, John Swinney, revealed the members of the newly established international council of education advisers. Commenting he said: "The International Council of Education Advisers will bring a global perspective from highly qualified educators with expertise shaping and delivering education reforms around the world.”

In a statement to MSPs in June, Swinney said a review of school governance would begin in September: “It will explore all options and avenues to ensure that we create the right balance of autonomy and accountability in our education system. It will consider the changes to education that are needed to empower our teachers and schools, seek to devolve decision making and funding to schools and communities, and support the development of school clusters and new educational regions".