SHOULD WE SUBJECT OUR KIDS TO THIS TESTING?

I DO not think yesterday’s vote was wrong but it was rather premature given that we are only in the first year of these assessments.

I have been a teacher for nearly 40 years and a headteacher for 25. Primary schools implement Curriculum for Excellence, which relies strongly on teacher judgment, but they appreciate additional support in terms of assessment with information that they can interpret.

These assessments are another tool teachers can use in the classroom.

This is not new. As a teacher and a headteacher I saw assessments happen in the early years. This is more diagnostic in its nature but it is wrong to say assessment wasn’t happening already.

There are definitely things that need to be worked on. Some of the information technology has not been as robust as it could be – some children were using a mouse and others an iPad – and the tests are also a bit longer than they should be. I understand these will be reviewed.

I would have liked another year to take cognisance of what early years practitioners are saying rather than rushing to a vote. The standardised assessments provide an opportunity for schools to access robust additional assessment, providing valuable information to parents about their child’s learning journey.

The criticism of the assessments was from a relatively small snapshot of practitioners. I am aware of others who were quite happy and did not respond.

I hope national standardised assessments will continue. I would recommend a review and to consult widely to gather a wide consensus of opinion on what went well this year, which areas were tricky and what we will do differently next year. I know the Education Secretary would take cognisance of these views.