Single testing regime needed in schools to achieve better results
A SINGLE standardised schools testing system is needed to ensure money is invested in reform that achieves results, a Glasgow academic has told MSPs.
Last year the Scottish Government lost a vote when opposition parties voted in favour of scrapping standardised tests for P1 pupils.
A row erupted after it was claimed the testing of four and five year olds was putting children under pressure.
Holyrood’s Education Committee is holding an inquiry into standardised testing and a leading Glasgow education academic said the old system doesn’t produce effective results.
Professor Susan Ellis, of Strathclyde University, school of Education, said data on its own is meaningless but how it is understood and used determines whether the impact on attainment is positive or negative.
She said Scotland needs to be aware of “potential pitfalls” in standardised testing but that didn’t mean it should be avoided.
Prof Ellis, in a written submission, gave evidence on the impact on research and on education attainment outcomes
Of the old Scottish Schools Literacy and Numeracy survey, she said: “Whilst the sample size is sufficient to build a national picture of pupil performance across Scotland, it is too small to provide useful data for individual local authorities and schools.
“Too few pupils are assessed to produce results that could reliably inform specific policy or teaching recommendations or allow any insight into how attainment varies by rurality or school composition.”
In Glasgow the council refused to scrap testing of P1 pupils despite the council voting for it to be scrapped.
Education convenor Chris Cunningham said the vote which said tests “should” be scrapped, was an “expression” of opinion and not a clear direction to the council.
He said the council will continue to use standardised testing on P1 pupils this year.
Prof Ellis added: “We need a data rich, knowledge rich educational community at every policy and practitioner level and in every stakeholder group that is involved in Scottish Education.”
The standardised tests were introduced in Scotland in 2017 at P1, P4 and P7,
some parents groups, and the EIS, Scotland’s biggest teaching union said it was causing distress to the youngest pupils.
A campaign led to opposition parties forcing a vote on
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It was not binding on the Government however, and Education Secretary, John Swinney, said it would be deeply irresponsible” to scrap the testing and accused the other parties of playing politics and branded some “illinformed and hypocritical”.
The Tories, who voted for scrapping initially backed standardised testing in 2016, when they were being introduced, but said they have had “misgivings” about the policy in the years since.