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Exam system 'could be tarnished' Exam system 'could be tarnished'
(1 day later)
A radical new curriculum set to be adopted by Scottish schools could tarnish the reputation of the exam system, a union leader has claimed.A radical new curriculum set to be adopted by Scottish schools could tarnish the reputation of the exam system, a union leader has claimed.
Ann Ballinger, president of the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association, said class teachers may mark more exams under the new system.Ann Ballinger, president of the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association, said class teachers may mark more exams under the new system.
She warned this could lead to pressure on staff to "massage" the results.She warned this could lead to pressure on staff to "massage" the results.
Ms Ballinger is due to address the teaching union's annual conference in Peebles on Friday afternoon. Ms Ballinger is due to address the teaching union's annual conference in Peebles later.
She will tell delegates that teachers have welcomed aspects of the Curriculum of Excellence, which aims to provide continuous education from ages three to 18, with an emphasis on cross-curricular teaching and independent learning.She will tell delegates that teachers have welcomed aspects of the Curriculum of Excellence, which aims to provide continuous education from ages three to 18, with an emphasis on cross-curricular teaching and independent learning.
But she will warn that one of the unintended consequences of the new system could be the possible removal of the external verification "which gives Scottish qualifications their deserved reputation for consistent quality".But she will warn that one of the unintended consequences of the new system could be the possible removal of the external verification "which gives Scottish qualifications their deserved reputation for consistent quality".
It is important to note that internal assessment is already a well-established feature of existing national qualifications Scottish Government
Ms Ballinger will say: "Internally assessed qualifications, no matter how rigorously applied, simply do not have the reputation or the guarantee of quality common to all Scottish externally assessed and marked qualifications.Ms Ballinger will say: "Internally assessed qualifications, no matter how rigorously applied, simply do not have the reputation or the guarantee of quality common to all Scottish externally assessed and marked qualifications.
"Leaving aside the obvious question of what is to be removed from the working time agreement to allow time for these internal assessments, we must have guarantees of national standards rigorously applied to ensure that no teacher faces pressure to massage the results from either a pushy parent on the school board, from a head teacher under pressure from HM Inspectorate of Education, or from a misguided local authority concerned solely with league tables.""Leaving aside the obvious question of what is to be removed from the working time agreement to allow time for these internal assessments, we must have guarantees of national standards rigorously applied to ensure that no teacher faces pressure to massage the results from either a pushy parent on the school board, from a head teacher under pressure from HM Inspectorate of Education, or from a misguided local authority concerned solely with league tables."
The Curriculum of Excellence could also result in children following a narrower range of subjects, Ms Ballinger will say.The Curriculum of Excellence could also result in children following a narrower range of subjects, Ms Ballinger will say.
She will also warn that long hours are leaving teachers under increased strain in both their professional and personal lives, with 50 or 60 hour weeks becoming the norm, and weekends spent catching up on administration tasks or marking.She will also warn that long hours are leaving teachers under increased strain in both their professional and personal lives, with 50 or 60 hour weeks becoming the norm, and weekends spent catching up on administration tasks or marking.
'Unable to function''Unable to function'
"Far too many [teachers] have retired early, exhausted by the workload, made ill by the stress and in some cases unable to function due to fear," Ms Ballinger will say."Far too many [teachers] have retired early, exhausted by the workload, made ill by the stress and in some cases unable to function due to fear," Ms Ballinger will say.
The new curriculum, which has been billed as the biggest shake-up in education for a generation, will see a new single exam introduced to replace Standard Grades and Intermediate exams, which are normally taken in fourth year.The new curriculum, which has been billed as the biggest shake-up in education for a generation, will see a new single exam introduced to replace Standard Grades and Intermediate exams, which are normally taken in fourth year.
The first pupils are due to sit the new exam in 2014.The first pupils are due to sit the new exam in 2014.
Ministers have also proposed literacy and numeracy tests for 15-year-olds.Ministers have also proposed literacy and numeracy tests for 15-year-olds.
A Scottish Government spokesman said an announcement on the "next generation" of national qualifications would be made in June. Schools and Skills Minister Keith Brown stressed that internal assessment was already a well-established feature of existing national qualifications.
"Final decisions have still to be taken," he said. "You are tapping into the professional expertise of the teacher body. Many teachers unions themselves are keen that teachers stay involved in that process," he told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme.
"Whatever the nature of future arrangements, the rigorous application of national standards will continue to be a key feature of Scottish qualifications. He said the proposed changes had to be viewed in the context of the new curriculum, which would give teachers more independence.
"It is important to note that internal assessment is already a well-established feature of existing national qualifications." A final decision on the new system will be taken by the Education Secretary in June.