Scottish Parliament votes for national standardised testing in primary schools

Plans to introduce standardised testing in Scotland’s primary schools took a step closer as MSPs rejected an amendment to the Scottish Government’s education bill which would have removed the proposals.

Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur’s amendment was defeated by 107 votes to nine.

The assessments, taken in reading writing and numeracy in P1, P4, P7 and S3, will be a requirement for councils.

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Critics have raised concerns the results could lead to league tables and ‘teaching to the test’, but Education Secretary Angela Constance said the raw data would be used ‘constructively’ by teachers and would not be made public.

“We have no interest in a return to high stakes testing. This new system will help to reduce the burden of assessment, building on best practice and replacing the wide variety of approaches taken by local authorities with a new streamlined, consistent approach.

“Crucially, the assessments will inform teacher judgment, not replace it,” she said.

McArthur said the proposal went against the ethos of Scotland’s curriculum for excellence, which favours a holistic approach.

“Pupils struggling at school don’t need to hear that they are coming bottom of the class. They need to know what they can do to improve.  Teachers and schools making real headway in helping pupils achieve their potential don’t need to be told their marks are not as good as another school,” he said.

Standardised tests form an integral part of the new National Improvement Framework, aimed at raising standards and narrowing attainment inequalities. The bill also places a duty on local authorities and ministers to prioritise closing the attainment gap.

Scottish Labour said these could be addressed by raising income tax in Scotland.

The bill also includes a cap on learning hours and measures to guarantee Gaelic-language learning to parents who want it.