Created on: 22 Jun 2023
The EIS has responded to the Parliamentary Statement by Education Secretary, Jenny Gilruth, on the reform of Scottish Education.
The statement follows the publication of the findings of the Hayward Review this afternoon.
Commenting, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, "The Hayward Review report sets out a series of important recommendations which can deliver a more positive educational experience for young people in the senior phase of Scottish education.
"We need bold and innovative change to deliver a qualifications system that best meets the needs of young people, from all backgrounds, in schools and colleges across Scotland. Recommendations to reduce the emphasis on high-stakes exams, place a greater emphasis on continuous assessment, and provide space for greater breadth, depth, and enjoyment of learning across all areas of the curriculum, can deliver positive change for all of Scotland’s young people."
Ms Bradley added, "The Cabinet Secretary is correct that Scotland’s teachers must have their say in how the recommendations of the review are taken forward, in a way that does not add to teacher workload. The suggestion that teachers will have the opportunity to discuss the proposals during in-service days at the start of the new school term is welcome, although this must be on the understanding that other priorities will have to be delayed.
"Everyone involved in Scottish education is eager to move forward with positive change but, as the Hayward Review acknowledges, this will bring additional resource requirements which will require significant additional investment from government. We believe that Scotland’s young people are worth it."