Teachers angry over level of audit for new exams

SECONDARY teachers have again raised concerns about the integrity of a national audit to find out if schools are ready to introduce controversial new exams.

The deep audit, completed in March, will inform the Scottish Government of the readiness of schools to deliver National 4 and National 5 exams, which replace Standard Grades and Intermediates.

However Ann Ballinger, general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, which represents 9000 secondary teachers, said: “The SSTA has raised repeated concerns about the shallowness of this so-called deep audit.

“We have numerous examples of councils who failed to consult with classroom teachers or even department heads.

“According to the information collected at the time of the so-called deep audit, only five authorities consulted their experts, the staff developing material and preparing to teach the new courses next year.”