SQA scrapped in overhaul of high school teaching
●Teachers to get more time out of the classroom in new education reforms
Scotland’s education system will be overhauled and its exams body scrapped after a long-awaited report into the Curriculum for Excellence (CFE) found teachers spend too long in the classroom. report, Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence Into the Future, warned there is a “misalignment between Cfe’s aspirations and the qualification system” in the senior phase of secondary education in Scotthe land, which it said was an “obstacle” in the full roll-out of CFE the Curriculum for Excellence (CFE).
However, the OECD said it regards Scotland as a “pioneer” in curriculum reform, which it said many countries across the world were looking towards.
The OECD report called for:
• The creation of “a specialist standalone agency” responsible for the curriculum, which could also take responsibility for assessments;
• A better balance between breadth and depth of learning throughout CFE;
• The Scottish Government to adapt the senior phase of education to match the vision of CFE, including an overhaul of the existing exams and assessment system;
• Teachers to be given less contact time;
• Development of a “systematic approach” to the review of the curriculum.
The Scottish Government said it would accept all recommendations in full, including scrapping the SQA and “substantially” reforming” Education Scotland.
It also said it would actively consider what changes were required to Scotland’s qualifications and assessment system.
Education Scotland will no longer undertake inspections, with this work becoming a separate, independent role.
The OECD report also suggested the curriculum work currently undertaken by Education Scotland might best sit with any new curriculum and assessment body that will replace the SQA.
Education secretary Shirley-anne Somerville will on Tuesday give a statement to Parliament on the findings of the report.
Ms Somerville said: “The last few years have accelerated a debate about the future of Curriculum for Excellence and senior phase education in particular. The OECD report is crystal clear - Curriculum for Excellence is the right approach for Scotland.
"In fact, despite all the criticism here at home, the OECD tells us it is viewed internationally as an inspiring example of curriculum practice.
“However, ten years on from CFE being introduced, it is right and proper that we review how it is being implemented. We accept in full all 12 recommendations from the OECD.
"We will replace the SQA. We will talk to young people, parents and teachers to build a system that works in line with CFE – exactly as the OECD recommends. Responsibility for inspection will no longer sit with Education Scotland and we will look at what further reform of the agency’s functions is required."
She added: “What comes next is a period of change. but it is change in order to improve, to achieve more and to deliver for Scotland’s pupils. Our commitment is to do exactly that and we will work with everyone and anyone willing to help to make that a reality.”
The report, which included 30 interviews with 50 stakeholders, said that despite a drop in teaching time to 22.5 hours a week, teachers’ inclassroom time is still higher than the OECD average.
In a webinar hosted by the OECD, co-author Beatriz Pont said that Scotland’s Pisa performance – the OECD'S Programme for International Student Assessment – was declining, but by other measures, Scotland was more successful.
The report praised Scotland’s teachers as “well-trained and respected professionals in Scotland", while school leaders “have developed strong pedagogical leadership capacities”. But it said teachers needed more time outside the classroom to develop the curriculum.
The report warned there was a lack of consistency in the senior phase of schools, due in part, to the fact this part of CFE had been developed later. It said changes could include more continuous teacher assessment, externally marked projects and extended essays and oral and practical presentations.
The report said: “The structure, learning practices and assessment approaches in the Senior Phase also need adapting to be consistent with Cfe’s vision, and to allow for the smooth curriculum experience promised from three to 18.”
Education academic and report co-author Jan van den Akker said: “The CFE is a sort of jewel, but you have to polish it, to make it shining in every facet.
"One of the facets that needs
a bit more attention, dedication is the senior face. You seriously need to think about if the current design and practice of the senior phase is sufficiently in line with the CFE. There's almost a rhetorical question because we think it is not. So there are some major challenges to be done.”
The report also said the ownership of CFE was “fragmented” and added the technical language used in the implementation of the policy was “overwhelming”.
Scottish Conservative shadow education secretary Oliver Mundell said: “This damning OECD report exposes how badly the SNP Government have failed Scotland’s schools. The SNP have created a system lacking structure, vision, accountability, and data. Instead of fixing those deficiencies, they tried to paper over the cracks with thousands of pages of ‘confusing and unhelpful’ guidance."
He added: “This report is the final nail in the SNP’S flawed education system. They have now been forced into a massive top-to-bottom overhaul of their mistakes."
Scottish Labour education spokesperson Michael Marra said: “Parents, pupils and the many critics of the government’s performance on education policy over many years now see their own words and concerns validated by much of this report.
“We need an end to the narrowing of the school curriculum and a far greater focus on ensuring that pupils receive an in-depth education in all of their subjects – rote learning will not do.
"The SNP has failed to ensure that Curriculum for Excellence delivered.”