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Scottish government facing defeat over P1 assessments MSPs defeat government to call for 'halt' to P1 assessments
(about 17 hours later)
The Scottish government is facing defeat over national assessments for P1 pupils, with opposition parties uniting to demand they be scrapped. MSPs have defeated the Scottish government in a vote calling on ministers to "halt" national assessments for P1 pupils.
The assessments were introduced across Scotland last year, but some teachers and parents have criticised them.The assessments were introduced across Scotland last year, but some teachers and parents have criticised them.
Opposition parties say they are not in line with play-based early learning and could create league tables of schools.
Ministers insist they are not high-stakes tests, but help schools assess where pupils need help at an early age.Ministers insist they are not high-stakes tests, but help schools assess where pupils need help at an early age.
MSPs will vote on a Conservative motion calling for a "halt" to the tests after a debate. All four opposition parties have stated opposition to the policy - so if all members are present, the minority government will be defeated. Opposition parties say they are not in line with play-based early learning and could create league tables of schools.
The largely symbolic motion does not bind the government to any action, but Education Secretary John Swinney said he would "reflect on whatever parliament produces". Members voted by 63 to 61 to pass a Conservative motion calling for a "halt" to the tests, with all of the opposition parties uniting against the SNP.
The largely symbolic motion does not bind the government to any action, but Education Secretary John Swinney has said he would "reflect on whatever parliament produces".
Opposition parties called on the government to "respect the will of parliament" and scrap the tests.
Standardised assessments were introduced in 2017 in a bid to gather more data about the stages children have reached in their learning, with literacy and numeracy tests at P1, P4, P7 and S3 level.Standardised assessments were introduced in 2017 in a bid to gather more data about the stages children have reached in their learning, with literacy and numeracy tests at P1, P4, P7 and S3 level.
However there has been opposition to tests for the youngest pupils, with the EIS teaching union claiming they have left some children distressed and parents group Upstart Scotland saying they are administered "at an age when the overwhelming majority of European children aren't even at school".However there has been opposition to tests for the youngest pupils, with the EIS teaching union claiming they have left some children distressed and parents group Upstart Scotland saying they are administered "at an age when the overwhelming majority of European children aren't even at school".
Mr Swinney contends that it would be "deeply irresponsible" to scrap the tests, saying that "many of the criticisms from opposition parties have ranged from ill-informed to hypocritical".Mr Swinney contends that it would be "deeply irresponsible" to scrap the tests, saying that "many of the criticisms from opposition parties have ranged from ill-informed to hypocritical".
The motion tabled by Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith calls on parliament to note "the level of concern that has been raised by teachers and other education professionals regarding the introduction and delivery of new testing arrangements for P1 pupils". During the debate, SNP members repeatedly highlighted the fact that the Scottish Conservative manifesto for the 2016 Holyrood elections backed having tests in P1.
It goes on to call on ministers to "halt the tests in P1 and to reconsider the evidence and the whole approach to evaluating the progress of P1 pupils". Mr Swinney said he was "appalled" at the "deceit" of the Conservative motion, accusing the biggest opposition party of "playing politics".
Labour, the Greens and the Lib Dems have all indicated their support for this position in advance of the debate. Ms Smith said her party had "made a mistake" in backing P1 assessments in 2016, and had flagged up "misgivings" in the years since.
Mr Swinney has tabled an amendment for the debate, describing the assessments as "a key tool to inform teachers' professional judgement of the needs of the children and young people that they are teaching", calling this "especially valuable in P1 if closing the attainment gap is to continue". She said: "As a party we continue to have these misgivings. We are listening to what is being said by those who are being asked by deliver the tests, and it is why I am proposing this motion, which asks the government to stop and think.
He said the tests "should never cause stress to young children", and welcomed changes made to them after the first year of operation. "Halt the P1 tests so that we can reconsider the facts before us, and the whole approach to evaluating pupil progress in P1."
The SNP has repeatedly highlighted the fact that the Scottish Conservative manifesto for the 2016 Holyrood elections backed having tests in P1. Opposition MSPs were all critical of the assessments, albeit for different reasons, with the Greens and Lib Dems hitting out at the principle of standardised testing in general.
The party of government said the Tories were "guilty of grandstanding, preying on the anxieties of parents and blatant political opportunism", all "at the expense of kids' education". Labour's Iain Gray hit out at the practical implementation, saying young pupils had been upset "to the point of tears" by "daunting" tests and "questions they find incomprehensible".
Ms Smith accepted standardised tests "have a key role in improving standards and restoring the reputation of Scottish education", and said the Tories would back their continuation for older pupils. He also claimed teachers don't find the data generated useful "in any way", saying: "The government has managed to introduce assessments which feel like high-stakes tests to teachers and pupils, but don't produce statistically valid comparative measurements."
But she said ministers needed to "rethink its plans" for assessing the youngest pupils, adding: "Parents and teachers are all raising concerns about the way these are being introduced. And the truth is it would be irresponsible not to listen to them. Green MSP Ross Greer said his party was "unequivocally opposed" to standardised assessments, and said Mr Swinney was "developing a reputation for casting aside the views of elected members, as well as those of experts, teachers, parents and pupils".
"The Scottish Conservatives have been making our concerns heard about the P1 testing regime from the last two years. It is there on the record. We have listened and learned. Today's debate is a chance for the SNP to do the same." And Lib Dem education spokesman Tavish Scott said the assessments "skew learning away from play", which he said should be at the heart of the early-years curriculum. He added that he was "at a loss to understand why the government is deaf to the practical observations of teachers and parents".
MSPs and the media were offered a demonstration of the assessments on Tuesday, ahead of the vote. Mr Swinney argued that the assessments were "absolutely vital" to get information about children's learning "as early as possible", contending that they were "designed to fit compatibly" with a play-based curriculum.
Scottish Labour's education spokesman Iain Gray said this was a "desperate stunt" which was not "in any way equivalent to the pressure felt by a four-year-old sitting them". He said the tests had been going on for "years" at 29 out of Scotland's 32 local authorities, and were a "key tool to inform a teacher's professional judgement".
He added: "The Scottish Parliament has the opportunity to vote to scrap these tests for P1 children. If the SNP government were to ignore such a vote it would simply underline how out of touch ministers are on education." However his amendment reflecting this point was voted down by members by 63 votes to 61.
Green MSP Ross Greer said the tests "do more harm than good" and "should be scrapped". And MSPs subsequently passed Ms Smith's motion by the same margin.
And Lib Dem education spokesman Tavish Scott said the government "must accept" the vote if it goes against them. The motion passed calls on parliament to note "the level of concern that has been raised by teachers and other education professionals regarding the introduction and delivery of new testing arrangements for P1 pupils", and calls on ministers to "halt the tests in P1 and to reconsider the evidence and the whole approach to evaluating the progress of P1 pupils".