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Thursday 7 January 2016

Tests will be central plank of National Improvement Framework

"More details of plans to introduce standardised testing in Scotland's primary schools have been revealed."

"Local authorities will be required to use new standardised assessments, in reading, writing and numeracy, in P1, P4, P7 and S3."

 

"First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the raw data would not be made public."

"However, information would be published on the proportion of children reaching the expected standards in numeracy and literacy..."

"Teachers' unions, including the Educational Institute of Scotland, have been concerned about the possible unintended consequences of the assessments if the test results were used to produce unofficial league tables."

"The tests are a central plank of the National Improvement Framework which the Scottish government claimed would help narrow the attainment gap between the least and most deprived children."

"Ms Sturgeon formally launched the framework at an event in Glasgow, saying it offered Scotland the opportunity to become a world leader in education." ...

"SSTA General Secretary Seamus Searson said: `The standardised assessment can only be a small part of any assessment as it can only confirm a relatively small part of a teachers professional judgement`. "

"`The teacher is working with a young person for a considerable amount of time and would be able to give a reasonably accurate assessment of the level of literacy and numeracy`. "

"`Any computerised test would only be an indicator and could not overturn that judgement`." [So private companies are going to get a slice of the education budget. For what ?]

"Information on the percentage of children achieving curriculum levels in literacy and numeracy will be published nationally and by school and local authority."

"The Scottish government said the data would be used to set specific milestones for closing the gap in attainment between children from the least and most deprived communities."

"Parents will also be able to access information about their own child's progress to know if further support may be required at home and in school..."

"Earlier this week, the Scottish Parent Teacher Council (SPTC) published the findings of a survey of parents` views on the new assessments."

"It suggested mixed opinions with many uncertain and concerned about how the information on pupils' progress, gathered through the new tests, might be used."

"Last month, a major report by the Commission on School Reform warned the introduction of the new assessments would have to be handled `carefully.`"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-35237834

Isla O’Reilly, spokesperson for the Greens:
"Class sizes are the largest they’ve been since 2007, teachers are overworked and additional support needs provision has been cut. Tackling these issues should be the priorities if we are to improve the chances of children from poorer backgrounds.

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