SCRAPPING National 5 exams in favour of a school graduation certificate is one option put forward by an education expert examining possible reforms of the education system.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) appointed Oxford University professor, Gordon Stobart, to devise options for Scotland’s future approach to assessment and qualifications. He compared Scotland’s system with those in nine other places worldwide, including England, Wales, Ireland, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Norway.
Stobart praised the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) as a “a pioneering example of 21st century curriculum reform”, but said it “loses strength” in the senior years as there can be a focus on “teaching to the test”. He lists six options for possible reform of assessments and qualifications so they align more closely with the CfE.
READ MORE: LISTEN: Oliver Mundell's car-crash BBC Good Morning Scotland interview on exams
As well as “de-cluttering” S4 and S5 assessment by possibly scrapping National 5 exams, further options include an S4-S6 qualification system combining teacher assessment and exams.
He said: “Many students are involved in traditional examinations for three consecutive years – a continuation of the historic ‘two term dash’. This diet of examinations may limit the depth and breadth of teaching and learning.”
He also suggests a possible decentralisation of the qualification system, following adaptations made amid the pandemic when exams were cancelled. “The Covid-19 experience of 2020-2021 could stimulate the option of further developing more localised and resilient models of assessment as schooling moves back to normal levels,” he said.
“It may well be that local solutions are more dependable. Schools, rather than the central agencies, have become the fall-back during the present crisis and proved they could cope.”
One option he recommends strongly is including pupils’ views in decisions around assessments, while highlighting that information available indicates they “would prefer a greater emphasis on continuous assessments by their teachers”.
A further option is increasing both the integration and status of vocational awards, while Stobart also suggests increased use could be made of online exam resources and oral examinations as assessments.
Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Our decision to cancel exams as a result of the pandemic rightly sparked a great deal of discussion about the best way to recognise learners’ achievements and how we continue to meet their needs.
“That is why we asked the OECD to undertake this vital work and I welcome this important contribution from Professor Stobart, which is informed by how other countries run an assessment process.”
Scottish Greens education spokesman, Ross Greer, added: “This report, secured by the Greens following last year’s SQA exams shambles, is most welcome and endorses our long-held policies for school assessments.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here