Most ‘unaware of pupils’ progress’

evidence of learners’ achievement in the sciences.

“Most schools do not yet have comprehensive approaches to assessing and tracking learners’ progress. As a result, they do not yet have a robust picture of learners’ achievement in the sciences.”

In addition, Education Scotland said some secondary schools were still getting pupils to choose science subjects too early, which was impacting negatively on the breadth and depth of their learning.

And in primary schools it said learning in the sciences was “too often predominantly or exclusively” delivered through joint projects which did not feature enough science.

“A few children in primary school, whose experience of the sciences was exclusively through an interdisciplinary approach, could not identify having studied any science,” it adds.

Eileen Prior, executive director of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council, described the report as concerning. “Parents are looking for a clear understanding of what their children are learning and what they are achieving and the report indicates there is some way to go before parents can be confident,” she said. “We are particularly concerned early choice of subjects continues to be an issue.”

Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland teaching union, said the pressure to introduce new qualifications had forced many schools to take a pragmatic approach. He said: “Our call for a delay was dismissed by the Scottish Government. While teachers are determined to ensure pupils are not disadvantaged, the system needs to recognise that this is an interim phase.”

Mr Flanagan also said it was important schools avoided excessive monitoring of pupils which would add a significant workload without improving learning.

The report also found that in some secondary schools there were still clear gender differences with girls tending to study biology and boys taking physics. A MEMBER of the RAF’s historic Dambusters squadron is helped by two of his comrades after a mock road accident, staged as part of preparations for the unit’s final deployment.

RAF 617 squadron, based at Lossiemouth, is taking part in the War Week Mission Rehearsal Exercise before leaving for Afghanistan in the coming months. The squadron is being wound down on April 1 next year but will reform in 2016. Picture: Getty