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Nicola Sturgeon to detail standardised school testing plans Nicola Sturgeon details standardised school testing plans
(35 minutes later)
More details of plans to introduce standardised testing in Scotland's primary schools will be revealed later. More details of plans to introduce standardised testing in Scotland's primary schools have been revealed.
Local authorities will be required to use new standardised assessments, in reading, writing and numeracy, in P1, P4, P7 and S3.Local authorities will be required to use new standardised assessments, in reading, writing and numeracy, in P1, P4, P7 and S3.
First Minister Nicola Strurgeon will outline what information from the tests will be made publicly available. First Minister Nicola Strurgeon explained that the tests would be made publicly available.
Some critics have raised concerns that the results will be used to draw up "league tables" for primary schools. Some critics have raised concerns that the results could be used to draw up "league tables" for primary schools.
BBC Scotland understands the details are likely to be enough to reassure Scotland's largest teaching union, the EIS. Teachers' unions, including the Educational Institute of Scotland, have been concerned about the possible unintended consequences of the assessments if the test results were used to produce unofficial league tables.
It had been concerned about the possible unintended consequences of the assessments if the test results were used to produce unofficial league tables.
Life chancesLife chances
The tests are a central plank of the National Improvement Framework which the Scottish government claims will help narrow the attainment gap between the least and most deprived children. The tests are a central plank of the National Improvement Framework which the Scottish government claimed would help narrow the attainment gap between the least and most deprived children.
Ms Sturgeon will formally launch the framework at an event in Glasgow, saying it offers Scotland the opportunity to become a world leader in education. Ms Sturgeon formally launched the framework at an event in Glasgow, saying it offered Scotland the opportunity to become a world leader in education.
She is expected to say: "Despite the progress we are making, nobody can be comfortable living in a country where different levels of wealth create such a significant gap in the attainment levels - and therefore the life chances - of so many children. She said: "Despite the progress we are making, nobody can be comfortable living in a country where different levels of wealth create such a significant gap in the attainment levels - and therefore the life chances - of so many children.
"That's why the Scottish government is taking concerted action now. Our overall aim is to raise standards everywhere, but to raise them most quickly, in the areas that most need it.""That's why the Scottish government is taking concerted action now. Our overall aim is to raise standards everywhere, but to raise them most quickly, in the areas that most need it."
The details are expected to receive a cautious welcome from teaching unions. In response to the plan, Larry Flanagan of the EIS said: "The EIS has been working constructively with Scottish government to ensure that the introduction of a national improvement framework did not herald a return to the damaging 'teach to the test', target setting, league table agenda which CfE has steered Scottish education away from.
Larry Flanagan of the EIS said: "The EIS has been working constructively with Scottish government to ensure that the introduction of a national improvement framework did not herald a return to the damaging 'teach to the test', target setting, league table agenda which CfE has steered Scottish education away from.
"We're hopeful that the FM's announcement later today will confirm the central role of teacher professional judgement in assessing pupil progress and the continuation of the CfE assessment framework, where the primary purpose of assessment is to support learning.""We're hopeful that the FM's announcement later today will confirm the central role of teacher professional judgement in assessing pupil progress and the continuation of the CfE assessment framework, where the primary purpose of assessment is to support learning."
SSTA General Secretary Seamus Searson said: "The standardised assessment can only be a small part of any assessment as it can only confirm a relatively small part of a teachers professional judgement.SSTA General Secretary Seamus Searson said: "The standardised assessment can only be a small part of any assessment as it can only confirm a relatively small part of a teachers professional judgement.
"The teacher is working with a young person for a considerable amount of time and would be able to give a reasonably accurate assessment of the level of literacy and numeracy."The teacher is working with a young person for a considerable amount of time and would be able to give a reasonably accurate assessment of the level of literacy and numeracy.
"Any computerised test would only be an indicator and could not overturn that judgement.""Any computerised test would only be an indicator and could not overturn that judgement."
Local councilsLocal councils
While most of Scotland's 32 local authorities already conduct some form of standardised assessment to monitor children's progress, the first minister will argue they are not conducted on a consistent basis. While most of Scotland's 32 local authorities already conduct some form of standardised assessment to monitor children's progress, the first minister argued that they were not conducted on a consistent basis.
"As a result there is currently a lack of information about overall performance at both a national and local level," Ms Sturgeon is expected to say.
Pilots will be conducted in some areas this year, with the assessments introduced across Scotland in 2017.Pilots will be conducted in some areas this year, with the assessments introduced across Scotland in 2017.
Information on the percentage of children achieving curriculum levels in literacy and numeracy will be published nationally and by school and local authority.Information on the percentage of children achieving curriculum levels in literacy and numeracy will be published nationally and by school and local authority.
The Scottish government said the data would be used to set specific milestones for closing the gap in attainment between children from the least and most deprived communities.The Scottish government said the data would be used to set specific milestones for closing the gap in attainment between children from the least and most deprived communities.
Parents will also be able to access information about their own child's progress to know if further support may be required at home and in school.Parents will also be able to access information about their own child's progress to know if further support may be required at home and in school.
Ms Sturgeon will detail a range of measures, some of which are already under way, aimed at closing the attainment gap, including: Other measures which have also been announced, include;
The first minister is expected to tell the International Congress on School Effectiveness and Improvement: "As a country, I believe that we should all aspire to making substantial progress in completely eliminating the attainment gap within the next decade."
Earlier this week, the Scottish Parent Teacher Council (SPTC) published the findings of a survey of parents' views on the new assessments.Earlier this week, the Scottish Parent Teacher Council (SPTC) published the findings of a survey of parents' views on the new assessments.
It suggested mixed opinions with many uncertain and concerned about how the information on pupils' progress, gathered through the new tests, might be used.It suggested mixed opinions with many uncertain and concerned about how the information on pupils' progress, gathered through the new tests, might be used.
Last month, a major report by the Commission on School Reform warned the introduction of the new assessments would have to be handled "carefully".Last month, a major report by the Commission on School Reform warned the introduction of the new assessments would have to be handled "carefully".