Russell bows to demand for delay to new Higher exams

Parents warned the move will create confusion and lead to some questioning whether their children are doing the right qualification.

However, unions welcomed the ­decision by education secretary Mike Russell, arguing that many schools are not ready because of the extra workload associated with the new exams - part of the Curriculum for Excellence.

The climbdown by the Government comes after a number of councils, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, said not all schools were ready for the planned implementation and intended to offer the old Highers, which will be run in tandem with the new one for an extra year.

Although universities are expected to treat both the existing Highers and the revised one as the same for entry to higher education courses, the move was described as worrying by a leading parents' group.

Mr Russell said: "We expect the new Highers will be the best option for our young people when they come on stream, but we recognise there may be some situations where the professional judgment of teachers may lead them to consider other options.

"Where it is a principal teacher's clear professional judgement that their young people's interests would be best served by studying for the existing Highers then it is right they should have the opportunity to work closely with their senior management, local authority and, crucially, the parent body, to make that decision."

Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland teaching union, welcomed the new direction.

He said: "We raised teachers' concerns regarding the introduction of the new Highers with the Cabinet Secretary and it is welcome that, following these discussions, he has listened to teachers' views.

"This is a sensible approach that will enable teachers to use their best judgment in deciding which option is in the best interests of their pupils.

"It is now imperative for all councils to follow this lead and support teachers in their decisions rather than imposing authority-wide policies."

However, Eileen Prior, executive director of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council, said: "Parents whose youngsters are in S3 and S4 are likely to be watching and listening to the discussion on Highers with some concern.

"Many will be in the dark that ­Highers are due to change and for others the focus at the moment is very much on Nationals.

"For parents who are aware of the new Highers, there will be worry about how their children can be best served by taking a qualification designed to fit with the old curriculum."

Mr Russell's comments are in contrast to a statement from Scottish Government officials weeks ago which said schools were preparing well and would implement the revised Highers "in line with the national timetable".

Schools quango Education Scotland also wrote to councils to say it was in the best interests of young people to move to the new Highers next session.

The change of tack came as ­Scotland's largest council pressed ahead with plans to allow schools to delay the exam where necessary.

Officials from Glasgow City Council will allow schools an extra year, blaming the "significant workload increase" following the introduction of new National 3, 4, and 5 exams, which

replace Standard Grade next year. Crucially, the council warned the lack of time schools have had to prepare for the new Highers could have an adverse effect on how successful pupils are in the exams.

In a paper to the council children and families committee, which meets next week, Maureen McKenna, the council's executive director of education, said teachers' concerns were that "young people's attainment could suffer as a result".

Meanwhile, a lack of confidence among headteachers has been blamed for an increase in excessive red tape associated with the roll-out Scotland's new curriculum.

The finding is among six problem areas identified by an action group established by the Scottish Government to reduce bureaucracy in the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE). Other problems include an over-detailed planning process, inappropriate use of IT and inflexible approaches to CfE by councils.

The working group, which brings together teachers, councils, parents and government, hopes to address the problems by getting councils to challenge unnecessary bureaucracy and discourage excessive paperwork.