Scottish teaching ‘inflexible and too prescriptive’

A MAJOR review of teaching in Scotland’s schools has called for the focus on reducing class sizes to be ditched in favour of improving standards among teachers.

The review of teachers’ pay and conditions, which was led by Professor Gerry McCormac, principal of Stirling University, said evidence had shown low pupil-to-teacher ratios did not necessarily improve educational attainment.

Following an eight-month investigation into teacher employment, the report made a series of recommendations, with its main author concluding the current system in Scottish schools is “overly prescriptive and inherently inflexible”.

As well as suggesting an end to the focus on reducing class sizes, it recommended the controversial introduction of “external experts” to aid teachers, as well as scrapping the system of chartered teachers.

However, it said teachers should continue to have a 35-hour contracted week, with no changes being made to salaries in the short term.

Prof McCormac said that while the existing pupil-to-teacher ratio should be maintained, it was time to move beyond focusing on cutting class sizes – a pledge of the SNP government.

He said: “Evidence, including from some stakeholders, suggests that maintaining a low pupil-to-teacher ratio does not necessarily result in improved outcomes.

“Improving teacher quality and enhancing the sense of professional purpose in teaching is a better indicator of improved outcomes for children and young people.

“We are, therefore, of the view that while the existing pupil/teacher ratio should be maintained, the kind of further marginal reductions in class size which are likely to be possible in the medium term should not be pursued at the expense of raising overall teacher quality.”

In its 2011 manifesto, the SNP said it was committed to smaller class sizes, particularly for P1-3, pledging a new legal limit of 25 for P1 classes.

Labour’s shadow education spokesman, Ken Macintosh, said: “Class sizes are a key part of this report. McCormac has given the SNP an opportunity to clarify this matter.

“Yet again, they’re left in a position where they need to provide clarity to families across the country. Where on earth do they stand on class sizes?”

Mr Macintosh criticised the report’s call to scrap part of the “McCrone Agreement, drawn up in 2001 after an inquiry led by Professor Gavin McCrone, which defined school duties that teachers should not be expected to carry out.

Ken Macintosh said: “With the number of teachers plummeting under the SNP, teachers are already under significant pressure – never mind piling more on to their plates. Teachers should be left to teach, not dish out school dinners or repair computers.”

The recommendations have been passed to the Scottish Government for consideration.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said it would not comment on the findings of the McCormac review until it had discussed them with teaching unions and the local authorities group Cosla.

Education secretary Michael Russell said: “These recommendations need to be given full and careful consideration as I believe they can make an important contribution to the work to develop our teaching workforce.

“Of course, this cannot move forward without discussion and consultation with teaching unions, Cosla and other key players.”

Elsewhere in the report, it was recommended that no changes be made to the current 35-hour working week, but said flexibility should be allowed throughout the week to allow teachers to undertake “effective collegiate work”. The report also recommended that teachers should stay on school premises during the school day.

It said no changes should be made to salaries in the short term but they should remain at a level that “ensures teaching is an attractive career choice”.

The report comes a decade after the McCrone review, which helped secure a 23 per cent pay rise for teachers over three years and is credited with reducing long-running tensions within the profession.

Teachers who have completed a probationary year currently earn £25,716, rising to a top salary of £34,200 for classroom teachers.

Commenting on the McCormac review, Ronnie Smith, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland, said: “The initial overall impression is that the report weakens key contractual protections introduced in the 2001 agreement and strengthens managerialist, as opposed to collegiate, approaches.

“Under the guise of ‘flexibility’ even greater burdens and controls are proposed for teachers who will have to rely on the benevolence of the headteacher to spare them from excessive workload.”

Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT union, said: “This review is stripping teachers of their professionalism and is a blueprint for increasing already excessive workloads, deepening the crisis in teacher morale.”

However, Anthony Finn, chief executive of the General Teaching Council of Scotland, said: “We are broadly supportive of these proposals which maintain and enhance professionalism in Scottish teaching. Many of the report’s recommendation are directly supportive of principles and practices which GTCS has been developing.”