EIS president puts swinney to the test

Union chief warns education secretary on standardised testing

The outgoing president of Scotland’s largest teaching union has warned standardised testing cannot lead to the return of school league tables.

Educational Institute of Scotland president Pat Flanagan also told delegates at the union’s AGM in the Caird Hall, Dundee, yesterday that teachers’ “patience is exhausted” in their row with the Scottish Qualifications Authority over their increased workloads.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced in January that councils will be required to use new standardised assessments in reading, writing and numeracy, in primaries one, four and seven and third year of high school, as part of the National Improvement Framework (NIF).

Although the Scottish Government maintains this data will not be published, details of the proportion of children reaching the required standards would be made available. This has led to concerns from critics, such as the EIS, that it could see the return of league tables through the back door.

Education secretary John Swinney will address the AGM tomorrow.

Mr Flanagan said: “Concerns remain about the direction that the NIF may take and many teachers and parents remain sceptical over proposals in relation to national standardised assessments.

“Are they to be a tool available to teachers for diagnostic assessment of are they part of the accountability agenda?

“It remains for John Swinney to offer reassurance on the Scottish Government’s plans and a firm commitment that there will be no return to highstakes national testing or a league-table approach to measuring pupil progress.”

Mr Flanagan also warned that EIS members have lost patience over the increased workload imposed on teachers due to the introduction of Curriculum for Excellence and the new National Qualifications.

He urged members to vote for industrial action in the ballot that closes next week.

Picture: Alan Richardson. EIS president Pat Flanagan issued warnings on standardised assessments and teachers’ workload at the union’s AGM in Dundee yesterday.