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Concerns over quality of teaching | |
(about 10 hours later) | |
By Kenneth Macdonald Special Correspondent, BBC Scotland A major review of teacher education will begin next month | By Kenneth Macdonald Special Correspondent, BBC Scotland A major review of teacher education will begin next month |
Figures obtained from a Scottish government survey have prompted questions about the quality of teaching in the country's primary schools. | Figures obtained from a Scottish government survey have prompted questions about the quality of teaching in the country's primary schools. |
Newsnight Scotland has highlighted hitherto unreported figures in the government's own Survey of Achievement which show primary teachers consistently overestimate how well their pupils are doing. | Newsnight Scotland has highlighted hitherto unreported figures in the government's own Survey of Achievement which show primary teachers consistently overestimate how well their pupils are doing. |
In recent years, teachers thought their children would be three times better at science than subsequent tests revealed. In maths, P7 teachers were twice as optimistic as reality. | In recent years, teachers thought their children would be three times better at science than subsequent tests revealed. In maths, P7 teachers were twice as optimistic as reality. |
And in reading, teachers thought their P7 pupils would do one and a half times better than the eventual test results. | And in reading, teachers thought their P7 pupils would do one and a half times better than the eventual test results. |
The Scottish Survey of Achievement also shows primary teachers have little confidence in their ability to teach science - even though it is a key part of the government's new Curriculum for Excellence. | The Scottish Survey of Achievement also shows primary teachers have little confidence in their ability to teach science - even though it is a key part of the government's new Curriculum for Excellence. |
When surveyed, 28% of teachers said they were very confident at teaching biology to P7 pupils. That fell to 11% for chemistry - and just 10% for physics. | When surveyed, 28% of teachers said they were very confident at teaching biology to P7 pupils. That fell to 11% for chemistry - and just 10% for physics. |
The education secretary said the review would drive up standards | The education secretary said the review would drive up standards |
The Scottish government is setting up a major review of teacher education, which will start work next month. | The Scottish government is setting up a major review of teacher education, which will start work next month. |
It will have access to a series of findings which cast further doubt on the quality of Scottish primary education - and the teachers who deliver it. | It will have access to a series of findings which cast further doubt on the quality of Scottish primary education - and the teachers who deliver it. |
Researchers at Dundee University who looked at their own institution's primary teaching degree students found two-thirds of them failed to master the P7 maths they were expected to teach - even though they were allowed an unlimited number of attempts to reach the mark. | Researchers at Dundee University who looked at their own institution's primary teaching degree students found two-thirds of them failed to master the P7 maths they were expected to teach - even though they were allowed an unlimited number of attempts to reach the mark. |
International surveys also suggest Scotland's performance in primary and secondary schooling is slipping - and that attainment in maths, science and reading is declining. | International surveys also suggest Scotland's performance in primary and secondary schooling is slipping - and that attainment in maths, science and reading is declining. |
Reading among 10-year-olds has not improved since the turn of the century. | Reading among 10-year-olds has not improved since the turn of the century. |
In P5, maths attainment has not improved since 1995 - and in science it has actually got worse. | In P5, maths attainment has not improved since 1995 - and in science it has actually got worse. |
In vain | In vain |
Education Secretary Mike Russell told Newsnight Scotland: "The review of teacher education that we've got will drive up the equality of teacher training - even though I think it's high in many places. | |
"I don't demean or diminish the quality of our teachers, I think it's normally very good. | "I don't demean or diminish the quality of our teachers, I think it's normally very good. |
"We will also have smaller class sizes in the key primaries which makes it work." | "We will also have smaller class sizes in the key primaries which makes it work." |
Opponents will try in vain to lay the blame for this at the SNP's door. The figures date from before they took office. | Opponents will try in vain to lay the blame for this at the SNP's door. The figures date from before they took office. |
And it could represent an opportunity for the government - because it has the potential to shift the debate away from class sizes to something that really determines the quality of a Scottish education: the quality of the teachers themselves. | And it could represent an opportunity for the government - because it has the potential to shift the debate away from class sizes to something that really determines the quality of a Scottish education: the quality of the teachers themselves. |
See Kenneth Macdonald's report on Newsnight Scotland, on BBC Two at 2300 GMT on Wednesday 27 January, or on the BBC iPlayer. | See Kenneth Macdonald's report on Newsnight Scotland, on BBC Two at 2300 GMT on Wednesday 27 January, or on the BBC iPlayer. |
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