MANY secondary schools in Scotland are ignoring official guidance on the introduction of the controversial new curriculum, a survey has found.

The poll of 180 schools by the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA) found 45% are still allowing pupils to choose exam subjects at the end of second year.

The move runs counter to the intentions of the new Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) which seeks to give pupils a broad-based education until the end of S3.

It is only then they are supposed to choose which subjects they will sit under the new National 4 and National 5 exams – which replace Standard Grades and Intermediates.

Michael Russell, the Education Secretary, has already spoken out over the issue after a decision by East Renfrewshire to allow S2 pupils to choose subjects.

However, the council believes making early choices will preserve the breadth of subject choice – and better prepare pupils for Higher exams.

Ann Ballinger, general secretary of the SSTA, said: "Perhaps the solution is to go back to the ethos of CfE and allow schools to decide what is best for them and their pupils."

Mr Russell said: "I would hope schools are listening very carefully to the advice and assistance they are getting so they can ensure the advantages of CfE are being delivered.

"There is widespread support in schools for the model that is being supported nationally and that is what will be implemented."

East Renfrewshire decided to allow all of its schools to delay implementation for a year, and wants most pupils to continue to choose subjects in S2.

Mr Russell has previously said he was prepared to treat East Renfrewshire as a "special case" during the transition to the new exams.