Quango uncovers ‘major problems’ in primary schools
ONE in six Scots primary schools has ‘important weaknesses’ that could undermine standards, official figures show.
The Education Scotland quango raised concerns over the quality of lessons in 16 per cent of primaries visited by inspectors.
The weaknesses uncovered at 21 out of 135 primaries inspected were said to be ‘sufficient to diminish learners’ experiences in substantial ways’.
Education Scotland has not published an overview of all its inspections for two years and the latest information had to be obtained via freedom of information requests.
Last night, Scottish Tory young people spokesman Elizabeth Smith said: ‘It
‘It really comes as no surprise’
really comes as no surprise that even the SNP’s own Government agency is reporting “weaknesses” in primary school education.
‘This is because the Scottish Government has not yet devised a system which will effectively allocate money to the poorest children. The money needs to follow the child, not the postcode.’
The figures come amid controversy over the school inspection system after it emerged earlier this year that inspections had fallen by more than 70 per cent compared with 2004-05, when about 500 schools were assessed. The Tories also disclosed that the number of school inspectors had dropped from 80 when the SNP came to power in 2007 to 66.
Education Scotland said it had cut down on inspections to support schools through the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), but from next year they should begin to increase.
The figures are an indictment of the CfE, which was intended to drive up educational standards in schools.
The Tories want an independent inspectorate operating independently of the Scottish Government.
Earlier this year, the education system was branded a ‘postcode lottery’ by council officials.
In a damaging intervention for the SNP, local authority education chiefs also called for an overhaul of the party’s flagship CfE.
The Association of Directors of Education in Scotland said pupils’ access to ‘basic educational opportunities’ varies hugely, meaning many lose out. It condemned a ‘postcode lottery of opportunity’ and warned ‘the status quo in Scottish education over the lifetime of the next parliament is unacceptable’.
In December, a separate report revealed Scotland’s schools face a growing crisis over classroom standards. If found reading and maths skills have slumped.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report highlighted the gulf between the best and worst schools and warned that ‘these gaps widen between areas of high and low deprivation in both numeracy and literacy’.
Education Scotland claimed the new inspection data figures – released to the Times Education Supplement Scotland – were a partial sample and ‘not representative nationally’.
The body added that where inspectors identified an area as ‘weak’ during an inspection they would work with the school and local authority to agree a plan of action.
Andy Wightman, Scottish Greens candidate for Lothians, said his party is calling for an inquiry into the crisis and a review of PPP/ PFI contracts.