A senior special advisor to education minister John Swinney telephoned Education Scotland last January, saying Mr Swinney was “getting twitchy” about the delay to publication.
The report on Argyll & Bute’s delivery of education emphasised several flaws, with Education Scotland demanding “urgent and sustained action” from senior staff.
However, the council had consistently opposed the content of the report, the way in which it was produced and the timing of publication.
Education Scotland is meant to operate “independently and impartially”, according to its website, despite the fact it is an executive agency and ultimately accountable to ministers. This status “safeguards the independence of inspection, review and reporting”.
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