Literacy and numeracy exams will be made available to Scottish students following a review of the national qualifications system announced by the Scottish Government today.
The new qualifications, designed to adapt exams to fit the aims of Curriculum for Excellence, will place a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy skills and simplify the exam system. Whilst Standard Grades and Intermediates will be replaced by a new general qualification, Highers and Access and Advanced Higher qualifications will be retained.
This comes at a time of falling literacy rates amongst Scottish children as a recent study of literacy in primary-age children in 45 countries found Scotland had fallen from 14th place in 2001 to 26th place in 2006.
Announcing the review Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop said:
"The future plans will enable young people to enjoy a rich educational experience to the end of S3 with an emphasis on skills for learning, skills for work and skills for life. They will have education to support an active and healthy lifestyle, an understanding of the relationship to the environment, an appreciation of Scotland's place in the world. It is vital that the new arrangements for qualifications build on this.
"The consultation will highlight those aspects of our qualifications system that we need to change in order to deliver this.
"We will be consulting with schools, local authorities, colleges, universities, employers, parents and young people to shape the content and detail of these next generation of qualifications during this period."
The proposed qualification system will be more flexible. S1 to S3 pupils will receive a broad education and will not be required to take external exams, while students from S4 onwards will be able to take qualifications over different timeframes. Pupils studying for Highers would be offered the choice of taking them over 12, 18 or 24 months.
Hyslop said:
"National Qualifications have a key role to play in helping to deliver the values, purposes and principles of Curriculum for Excellence. It will be particularly important to ensure that our National Qualifications support the new curriculum and contribute to delivering the Government's skills strategy."
The consultation on the package of reforms is expected to run from June to October.
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