A NEW probe into national testing in schools is to take place as MSPs look at its impact on the attainment gap in Scotland.
Members of the Holyrood cross-party Education Committee are to carry out their own inquiry into standardised assessments, which have been introduced by the Scottish Government.
Under the new system, pupils are assessed in primary one, four seven and in P1, P4, P7 and S3.
However, there has been widespread controversy over checks on the progress and abilities of the youngest pupils, with some teachers claiming the multiple choice forms have reduced some four and five-year-olds to tears.
Last month, Education Secretary John Swinney announced an independent review of testing for P1 pupils after Holyrood voted against including these youngsters in the programme.
Parliamentarians had their say on the subject amid fierce public debate, with the Scottish Government allowing reporters to take the computer-based assessments in its bid to allay fears.
Ministers say the scheme, which replaces a series of localised tests carried out by councils, is aimed at addressing the attainment gap between richer and poorer pupils.
Swinney has pledged that the review will be “led by the evidence” and could conclude the testing regime should be reformed or scrapped altogether.
Clare Adamson, convener of the Education Committee, said the panel’s inquiry “is not looking to duplicate work the Scottish Government has announced, which will focus only on P1 assessments”.
Instead, it will be “an open and transparent look at the evidence base for using standardised assessments across primary and secondary schools”.
Adamson, who represents Motherwell and Wishaw, commented: “We want to find out what role these play in Scotland’s schools. And, more importantly, how these will help to improve the educational outcomes for young people across the country.”
As part of the inquiry MSPs will consider the approach taken in other countries. They will also seek to establish what information is provided by the standardised national assessments and how this can help close the attainment gap in schools.
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