Teachers win cash boost for new exams

Education Correspondent

Wednesday 21 March 2012

Teachers have won a big concession from the Scottish Government in the form of a multi-million-pound emergency support package to help schools deliver controversial new exams.

support: Education Secretary Michael Russell has approved £3.5m in funding.

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Andrew Denholm Education Correspondent

In a significant development, Education Secretary Michael Russell has approved up to £3.5 million to fund extra support for secondary schools.

The exams are being introduced as part of the new school curriculum, the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE).

Last night, the support package was welcomed by the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) as a major step towards building confidence in the exams. An EIS spokesman said: "We welcome a successful conclusion to the detailed discussions we have held with the Scottish Government."The Cabinet Secretary has listened to the arguments presented and this package represents a significant and measurable investment which should allow schools to move ahead with greater confidence."In the main, teachers support the principles of CfE, but many have felt ill-prepared to deliver it on the current schedule. As a result, the EIS called for schools to be allowed to delay new exams for a year, but the Scottish Government insisted schools would be ready.However, earlier this year, alarm bells were sounded when East Renfrewshire Council – the country's top- performing education authority – announced a year's delay in all its schools, saying it needed more time for teachers and headteachers to prepare because not all felt confident of delivery. Subsequently, a number of leading private schools also decided to delay for a year to allow more time for teachers to prepare.Ministers hope the new money will ease concerns among teachers and parents. Schools will have flexibility over how they use the extra money, but it could be used to employ supply staff to free up subject specialists to develop new courses or receive training.Significantly, the Government is also expected to agree to the development of national course materials for the new National 4 and National 5 qualifications – which will replace Standard Grades and Intermediates in 2013/14.The package will also include two extra in-service days for teachers to prepare during the school week.Earlier this month, an EIS survey on the exams found the single biggest concern of teachers was mounting workload because they were developing coursework themselves.As a result, the EIS called for centrally-produced course materials for the new qualifications to lift the burden off classroom teachers.It is understood the development work will be carried out by staff from national exams body the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and Education Scotland, which oversees curriculum development, once more detailed exams information is published next month.The EIS spokesman added: "The provision of course materials in all subject areas for the new National 4 and National 5 qualifications directly responds to concerns over unmanageable workload and will be very welcome in schools."Taken together with substantial direct investment, additional in-service days and an expanded programme of professional development, this is a major step forward."The development was welcomed by Ken Cunningham, general secretary of School Leaders Scotland, which represents secondary headteachers. He said: "Any supported resource will be of help, especially if it gives more reassurance to teachers."A lot of this is directed at building up confidence within the teaching workforce as well as in the materials available."Iain Ellis, chairman of the National Parents Forum Scotland, said: "We are pleased that additional resources have been made available. "We know that budgetary pressures in schools in recent years have been challenging and we hope schools and teachers will take full advantage of these new resources and will continue with their implementation."We anticipate this enhanced support will ensure implementation of the curriculum is ambitious and creative, and is focused on delivering excellent learning experiences and outcomes for all of our children."

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Teachers win cash boost for new exams

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