Calls For Fewer School Assessments

Green MSPs support a report which says fewer assessments would benefits pupils and reduce teachers workloads.

There's concern that too much emphasis is being placed on the school examination system in Scotland.

A report has branded the first year of the Curriculum for Excellence qualifications as a success; however the paper says there's an 'unsustainable level of over assessment' in many parts of the system.

The findings come as thousands of pupils across Fife return to school this week.

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP said:

"I congratulate every teacher who has worked hard to make a success of this last year with the new qualifications. We need to get the balance right between learning and assessment and this report reflects my concern that the system is still too heavily weighted towards exams, which doesn't always lead to better educational outcomes. 

"Workloads in the teaching profession remain far too high and the Scottish Education Secretary must address this as one of his top priorities. I believe the Curriculum for Excellence has set us on the right path in Scotland but there is more work to do to achieve a school system that is sustainable and rewarding for both pupils and teachers."