Teachers vote against strike action over National Qualifications

MEMBERS of Scotland’s largest teaching union have voted against taking industrial action over the introduction of controversial new exams.

• Scotland’s largest teaching union will not strike over introduction of new National Qualifications

• National Qualifications will replace Standard Grades and Intermediates in most Scottish schools next year

A motion at the EIS’ AGM in Dundee had called for possible strike action if the Scottish Government did not agree to a one-year delay of the new National Qualifications.

However, members of the union, which represents 80 per cent of Scotland’s teachers and lecturers, rejected the motion.

Due for introduction next year and part of Curriculum for Excellence, the Nationals will replace Standard Grades and Intermediates in Scotland’s schools.

East Renfrewshire Council has decided to delay the introduction of the exams for a year to give its teachers more time to prepare.

However, a “deep audit” by Education Scotland last month concluded there was no need for a delay anywhere else.