Tories threaten to abandon support for Curriculum for Excellence

Scottish Conservatives - Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Conservatives are reviewing their support for the principles of Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), the party’s leader Ruth Davidson has said.

In the wake of the PISA international assessment results showing Scotland slipping behind other countries in reading, mathematics and science, the Tories say CfE should be “put on probation”.

Curriculum for Excellence is based on the idea of a more flexible, cross-curricular system of learning which starts before formal schooling and continues after pupils have left.

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Speaking at FMQs, Davidson said: “The single biggest education reform under the SNP government has been Curriculum for Excellence. Nobody here can simply brush aside the fact that, since it has come in, standards have fallen.”

She asked Nicola Sturgeon: “If standards are going down because of Curriculum for Excellence, why are we sticking by it?”

The First Minister replied that Conservative Education spokesperson Liz Smith had told MSPs the principles of CfE were “absolutely right” with “unanimous” support.

Speaking after FMQs Liz Smith said: “I was and am clear that the principles of CfE are sound. I am just as clear that the delivery is a complete mess, hence the reason why it should be on probation.”

The OECD carried out a full review of Scottish education and, while agreeing with the general principles and direction of CfE, also suggested implementation of the curriculum has been incomplete.

The Scottish Government should “create a new narrative for the Curriculum for Excellence,” it recommended in its report last December.

Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs today that Scottish Government actions were a result of the OECD report.

“What we need to do now is focus on implementing the OECD’s recommendations, ensuring that we invest in raising attainment, as we are doing through the attainment fund, ensuring that we have much more data available at school level about our schools’ performance, and ensuring that we are taking away bureaucracy and investing in educational leadership,” she said.

“Those are the hard actions that this government will get on with, because that is what parents across this country have a right to expect us to do—and we will do it.”

Davidson accused the Government of being “selective” in its interpretation of the recommendations, while Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said more investment would be required.

The Curriculum for Excellence covers ages 3 to 18 and was implemented from August 2010, culminating in the introduction of new senior phase exams this year.