Scots schools risk being left behind by other nations, teachers told

THE architect of a controversial education shake-up that has left teachers threatening to strike has warned Scottish children could be “left behind” unless his recommendations are implemented.

Professor Gerry McCormac’s report on teachers’ pay and conditions has been met with a mixed response since it was published in September.

Earlier this month, Scotland’s largest teaching union, the Educational Institute for Scotland (EIS), said its members would strike if recommendations were imposed on teachers against their will.

But Prof McCormac, the principal of Stirling University, has defended his report, saying the proposals are for “sensible working arrangements”.

The report called for more flexibility in the way teachers approach their jobs after concluding that the current system is “overly prescriptive and inherently inflexible”.

As well as recommending an end to the focus on reducing class sizes, the report suggested the controversial introduction of “external experts” to aid teachers, and scrapping the system of chartered teachers.

It also recommended scrapping some of the measures introduced a decade ago in the McCrone Agreement, including lists of duties, such as photocopying, that teachers are not expected to carry out.

Prof McCormac said implementing his recommendations would help arrest a slide which has seen Scotland fall behind its international competitors.

Until last year, Scotland had been dropping down the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) rankings, which compare educational attainment internationally. Last year saw a slight improvement.

Prof McCormac added: “If these recommendations weren’t adopted [we] would be [left with] practice as we currently experience it.

“I think if you look at the PISA data Scotland has been standing still within that, not moving ahead at the rate other countries have been moving ahead.

“So we’re looking at things that will improve outcomes and I think the risk is if we don’t continually review and update what it is we do, the outcomes won’t improve for children and indeed we will be left behind.”

Prof McCormac’s report recommended no changes be made to the 35-hour week, but said that flexibility should be encouraged to allow teachers to undertake “effective collegiate work”.

The report said teachers should stay on school premises during the school day, and although no changes should be made to salaries in the short term, they should remain at a level that “ensures teaching is an attractive career choice”.

Prof McCormac added: “A teacher is paid to be a teacher and that should be their primary function.

“There is no sense that we are encouraging teachers to do the job of clerical staff or other support staff in the school.

“Their primary role is around teaching, but they shouldn’t also be saying, ‘Well I don’t do X and I don’t do Y and I don’t do Z’. They should be professional and that is what the report is encouraging.”