Teachers’ revolt over exam muddle forces SNP to think again
SCOTLAND’S controversial exams shake-up is to be reviewed just a year after pupils started taking the new Highers, in a startling admission of failure.
Education Secretary Angela Constance has bowed to demands from teaching unions in setting up an expert group to look at their workloads.
The EIS teaching union voted overwhelmingly in f avour of i ndustrial action l ast month because the additional work required by the new system was ‘excessive and unsustainable’.
On Wednesday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the return of national tests in primary schools, 12 years after they were scrapped, in a bid to arrest falling standards.
There is growing concern about attainment, following an alarming slump in literacy, and the often chaotic introduction of the Curriculum for Excellence (CFE) by the SNP. Last year’s new maths Higher was so difficult that it reduced pupils to tears, triggered a protest petition of more than 10,000 signatures, and forced the Scottish Qualifications Authority QA to slash the pass grade to just 34 per cent.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh has criticised ‘profound weaknesses’ in the CFE, and a Daily Mail investigation found more than 93 per cent of secondary schools failed to meet a key target last year of at least half of pupils passing three or more Higher exams. Scottish Conservative young people spokesman Liz Smith said: ‘ It has been clear for some time that the delivery of the new qualifications which accompany the Curriculum for Excellence has been fraught with difficulties.
‘The recent problems with the new higher maths exam was just one example of this. The SNP has to accept full responsibility for these problems.
‘Guidance provided to teachers, particularly when it came to the moderation of assessments, was unclear, and the advice to parents was often confused.’
The Scottish Lib Dems have warned that the reintroduction of ‘Thatcherite’ standardised testing will lead to league tables and increased stress for teachers and pupils.
‘ Scottish teachers are being stretched to the limit,’ said Lib Dem education spokesman Liam McArthur. ‘Although I’m pleased that this group will examine issues surrounding teacher stress and workload f ol l owing t he introduction of the new National Qualifications, this is at odds with the First Minister’s determination to reintroduce national standardised testing.’
The EIS executive will meet tomorrow to consider if the establishment of a working group goes far enough.
The union’s general secretary Larry Flanagan said: ‘The overwhelming backing f r om EIS members, i n our consultative ballot, for industrial action on national qualifications-generated workload clearly indicated that teachers are demanding changes.
‘Action needs to be taken, and quickly, to reduce the severe burden that is being placed on pupils and teachers alike by the new qualifications.’
Miss Constance has set a tight timetable for the working group, with recommendations due in March, before parliament is dissolved ahead of the Scottish elections.
She said: ‘This group will apply a sharp focus on what more we need to do – in the short and long term – to fully embed our new National Qualifications as part of Curriculum for Excellence.’
‘Excessive and unsustainable’