Parents’ boycott backed by Rennie

PARENTS and teachers could boycott P1 tests if the SNP refuses to scrap them, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has claimed.

Education Secretary John Swinney has signalled he could ignore today’s Holyrood vote on the tests if it goes against the Government because it is ‘not binding’.

But Mr Rennie said that could spark a mass rebellion by parents and teachers looking to deliver ‘the will of the parliament’ in the classroom.

He said he would give his full support to a boycott, and admitted it would be a ‘big step’ but teachers are ‘angry’ about the prospect of the tests continuing. A campaign group has insisted that parents and teachers are ready to rebel if Mr Swinney presses on with the tests.

Sue Palmer, a former teacher who is chairman of the Upstart campaign, which is demanding the tests are scrapped, said: ‘We’ve already been encouraging parents to opt their four and five-year-olds out of the tests.

‘This has been starting to happen already but a lot of people are waiting to see what happens with the political vote.’

A spokesman for Mr Swinney said: ‘Willie Rennie is playing games again. He has no interest in improving education and is desperately trying to whip up a boycott for his own party political purposes.’

‘The will of the parliament’