Fiona MacLeod: Fury reigns over plans to overhaul exams

Published on Monday 1 December 2008 21:38

A COMPREHENSIVE overhaul of the school exams system was always going to prove controversial.

But plans to scrap the Standard Grade and introduce new literacy and numeracy tests for all school-leavers have sparked fury.

On the eve of the Scottish Government publishing the responses to consultation on proposed changes, insiders warned of mounting dissatisfaction.

One said: "People have been horrified by the level of disagreement about the proposals. The responses I have seen have all been very negative – they need to rethink the whole thing."

A key problem for many in Scotland's schools is the reduction of courses pupils will be able to take in fourth year.

Critics also said they felt questions were slanted towards an assumption that respondents would agree with the government's proposals.

A particular bone of universal contention is the proposal to introduce literacy and numeracy tests for all school-leavers.

The insider said the problem was the timing for those who fail.

She asked: "How are you going to repair that if they are leaving school? And are we going to have children with an illiteracy label attached to them?"

Fiona Hyslop, the education secretary, is today expected to make public her reaction to the views of teachers, and other educational representatives, on the proposed new General exams and school-leaver tests.

Teachers will be hoping her reaction to their concerns will be sympathetic.