CommonSpace editor Ben Wray looks at new figures on mental ill-health for pupils and teachers, and finds excessive exams is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the 20th century thinking which dominates the school system
EIS say evidence is contrary to Education Minister’s claim that Standardised Testing is “integral to everyday learning”
SCOTTISH GREENS education spokesperson Ross Greer MSP has told Education Minister John Swinney that he should “cut his losses” over the Scottish Government’s controversial standardised testing policy for schools, and at least scrap it for P1’s.
Battle over education reform heats up as General Election nears
SCOTLAND’S largest teachers’ union is poised to put pressure on the Scottish Government by debating strike action over increasing workloads and the government’s plans for teacher training reforms.
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) will hold its AMG in Perth on Thursday (8 June) amid concerns from teachers and educational experts about proposed new routes into teaching which could mean applicants by-passing university training – like the controversial ‘Teach First’ courses in England.
Scottish Government backtracks on previous contract tendering cost claims
THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT has admitted that the per year cost of standardised testing will be far higher than originally promised.
Plans to reintroduce standard tests throughout primary school and into early secondary school from this August has faced criticism from teaching unions and politicians over a lack of an evidence base.
Report shows damaging effect of homophobic abuse on lives of pupils, ex-pupils and school life in Scotland
90 PER CENT of LGBT respondents reported that they had experienced homophobia while at school, according to a new report by the Time for Inclusive Education (Tie) campaign.
The report which has exposed the impact of homophobic bullying as part of it campaign for awareness LGBT issues to be taught in all Scottish schools, also showed that 64 per cent said that they had been directly bullied because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Warning over cost to taxpayer of controversial testing scheme
THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT has launched a bidding process for its new standardised testing policy - which will cost the equivalent of 540 new teachers’ salaries.
The project to return to national assessments of pupils as young as five in Scottish schools has faced opposition from campaigners, teaching unions, and MSPs in parliament.
Common Weal head of policy Ben Wray explores why a friend of his has better prospects as a teacher in China than in Scotland's public sector
A GOOD FRIEND of mine is leaving Glasgow next month to move to China. I had never even heard of the city she is moving to, but it turns out that Heifei has a population about the size of London, at just under eight million people.
CommonSpace columnist and lecturer James McEnaney says the teaching profession needs far more support
WELL it's official: education is going to be 'front and centre' in the coming election campaign. We can therefore expect to hear endless rhetoric about 'closing the attainment gap', 'making effective use of new data', 'backing innovative solutions' and 'putting young people first'. Some of it might even sound convincing.
Under-fire education policy criticised for unknown impact on education budget
PLANS to enforce standardised testing of primary school pupils have not been costed by the Scottish Government, CommonSpace can reveal.
The shake up to the education curriculum, which would increase pressure on teachers to focus on exam results and test preparations, has been attacked due to a lack of support from education experts.
However, the proposal also risks high tendering fees, exam material costs and the administration costs of implementation.
Evidence-free plans to bring back centralised testing criticised at Scottish Parliament
THE LACK OF EVIDENCE behind plans to bring back standardised testing for primary schools has been described as a "shambles" at First Minister's Questions after CommonSpace revealed just four written submissions were received before the policy announcement.