Cold reception for winter exams

Published on Friday 27 February 2009 21:11

A PLAN to hold school exams in winter is unpopular, researchers said yesterday.

Nearly 70 per cent of those consulted in a Scottish Government survey disagreed with the proposal and just 24 per cent supported it.

Those in favour said it gave Christmas leavers a chance to gain a qualification, and that spreading exams over the year would reduce the pressure.

But critics said it would create practical problems, including lack of space and teacher time, interfere with winter activities and make pupils feel that they had exams all the time.

The proposal is part of an overhaul planned for Scotland's school exam system, which would see Standard Grade general and credit levels replaced with a new qualification. There would also be compulsory literacy and numeracy exams at Standard grade, but Highers would remain the "gold standard".

The new system is tied in with the introduction of the "curriculum for excellence".

The report, published yesterday by the Scottish Government, found three-quarters of those consulted agreed with updating the exam system. But critics said the curriculum for excellence was "vague, incoherent or flawed" and questioned the need for change.

The plan for literacy and numeracy awards is widely supported. But the name for the Standard grade replacements, General and Advanced General, was widely criticised, with 71 per cent against and only 29 per cent in favour.

Fiona Hyslop, the education secretary, told headteachers yesterday she planned to announce decisions on the new qualification system before the end of this academic year.