Swinney may try to push through primary testing

ANY vote to scrap controversial tests for Primary 1 pupils could be ignored by the Scottish Government, ministers have signalled.

Education Secretary John Swinney yesterday said that any Holyrood vote would not be ‘binding’.

The Conservatives will lead a debate on scrapping standardised assessments for P1 pupils at Holyrood on Wednesday, with all the opposition parties set to back them.

But in an interview on the BBC’s Sunday Politics Scotland programme, Mr Swinney repeatedly refused to say he would respect the outcome of the vote.

He said: ‘We’ll see what parliament comes up with on Wednesday. Parliamentary motions are not binding on the Government, the only thing that’s binding on the Government is legislation.

‘So, we’ll reflect on whatever parliament produces on Wednesday in the debate. We will make the very strong, evidenced argument for Primary 1 standardised assessments because it’s part of the integral process of learning for young people within Scotland and it’s important that we identify at the earliest possible opportunity the needs of young people and support them to overcome those challenges.’

Mr Swinney was pressed repeatedly on the issue of the vote but would not give a definitive answer.

The Scottish Government is expected to be defeated on Wednesday as all opposition parties oppose the tests, which have been introduced for pupils in Primary 1, 4 and 7, as well as S3.

The tests have been widely condemned by parents and teachers, with claims that some younger children have been left in tears.

Scottish Labour education spokesman Iain Gray said: ‘This is the latest in a series of increasingly desperate moves from the beleaguered SNP Education Secretary.

‘John Swinney’s thinly veiled threat to ignore the will of the Scottish parliament on standardised tests will not deter Scottish Labour MSPs from standing up on Wednesday in support of teachers and parents.

‘He should listen to the calls from teachers and educationalists who say these tests are useless.

‘This week’s parliamentary vote presents Mr Swinney with the opportunity to suspend Primary 1 tests and conduct a thorough and meaningful consultation with the teaching profession on the issue.

‘It’s time for Mr Swinney to put the children of Scotland ahead of his ego and bin these tests.’

Nationalist ministers have previously condemned the decision by Theresa May to defy the ‘will’ of the Scottish parliament by ignoring a vote.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: ‘This was an astoundingly arrogant intervention from the Education Secretary.

‘When parliament debates the abolition of P1 testing this week, Scottish Liberal Democrats will stand up and make sure the voices of teachers and parents are heard.

‘I’ve worked all my life for a democratic Scottish parliament and I find it astonishing that a government minister could contemplate ploughing onward if parliament expressly instructed him to stop.’

Scottish Green education spokesman Ross Greer said that if the parliament votes as expected against the tests, ‘there’ll be no justification for John Swinney to ignore the tide of evidence and the strength of feeling against this deeply misguided government policy’.

Scottish Conservative education spokesman Liz Smith said: ‘The Scottish Conservatives’ debate on Wednesday is designed to be fact-based.

‘This is a very important issue about which the current evidence suggests there are major issues about both the introduction and delivery of Primary 1 tests.

‘Given the strength of the evidence, Mr Swinney would be wise to listen to the points raised and consider the outcome very carefully.’

All MSPs have been invited by Mr Swinney to a demonstration of the tests ahead of Wednesday’s vote. His letter stated: ‘In order to ensure parliament’s consideration of this issue is as informed as possible, I do hope you will be able to attend.’

‘Listen to the calls from teachers’