Scotland’s Council Leaders met on Friday 27th June 2025 to discuss reduced class contact time for teachers. Following the meeting today COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Katie Hagmann and COSLA’s Children and Young People Spokesperson, Councillor Tony Buchanan have issued a joint statement.

COSLA's Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Katie Hagmann, commented:

“We will continue to work with Scottish Government and Trade Unions on reducing class contact time. To deliver this, we need to ensure there are no adverse impacts on children and young people's outcomes. We also need to be clear on the practicalities and cost implications of implementation.

"Closing the poverty related attainment gap and ensuring children have the support they need to learn must remain our absolute focus.

COSLA Children and Young People Spokesperson, Councillor Tony Buchanan, added:

“A reduction in class contact time of 1.5 hours a week is around 2 learning weeks of the school year. It is not an insignificant change.  This is why we’ve undertaken significant scoping work in recent months. This was discussed by Scotland’s Council Leaders today. It is clear from that work that in reducing class contact time there will be costs and impacts on wider services. These must be considered carefully as we take steps forward.

“We encourage parents, carers and children and young people to engage in the Scottish Government's consultation exercise. It is vital, in line with the UNCRC, that we take young people's voices into account in progressing this.”