Labour conference set to vote on scrapping P1 testing
LABOUR in Scotland is to vote on scrapping the standardised testing of primary one pupils.
At the party’s conference later this week it is expected to endorse the policy of scrapping the controversial tests for the youngest pupils and review them for older children.
The Scottish Government has backed the tests and said schools will continue to use them despite the Scottish Parliament voting for scrapping last year.
However, the education Secretary John Swinney, ordered an independent review of the tests following the vote, to allow him to “reconsider the evidence”.
Labour, instead wants to re-introduce the Scottish Literacy and numeracy survey to gather data of children’s progress.
In Glasgow, the SNP council administration has also refused to scrap the tests following a similar vote when Labour, Tory and Green councillors voted to end the tests.
Education convenor, Chris Cunningham had said the vote was an “expression of opinion” not an instruction to the council officers.
Iain Gray, Labour education spokesman, said: “Teachers do not want these tests, educationalists do not see the need for them, and Parliament voted to halt them at Primary 1 level.
“Labour delegates will have the opportunity this week to endorse the vote taken in the Scottish Parliament last year to scrap these tests for children in Primary 1.
“To help make our schools the best in the world, Labour would reintroduce the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy to ensure we have a clear idea of the condition of Scottish education.”
The motion Labour will debate is: “Conference calls for Scrapping of Scottish National Standardised Assessments for Primary 1s and reviewing them at P4, P7 and S3 levels. “Restoring of the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy.
“Re-entering of Scotland into internationally recognised measurements of literacy, numeracy and science (PIRLS and TIMSS).”
Meanwhile, Scottish Labour has suggested that lower paid workers will be hardest hit by a car park tax, as it announced it will vote against the plans at the party conference.
The tax, included in this year’s budget following an agreement between the Scottish Government and the Greens, will allow councils to introduce a workplace parking levy, with employers paying an annual tax to the council for every parking space provided for employees.
However, opposition parties at Holyrood claim that the move could cost staff hundreds of pounds each year if the charge is passed on to them.