A full independent review of Curriculum for Excellence should take place, the Scottish Conservatives have said, after Scotland’s schools were found to be slipping down global league tables.
At First Minister’s Questions, Ruth Davidson said the programme should be “put on probation” to work out what role it’s played in the demise of standards in reading, maths and science.
Nicola Sturgeon said while the Programme for International Student Assessment results were “not good enough”, she wanted to stick by the under-fire CfE.
This week, leading education expert Keir Bloomer said: “In short, the impact of CfE – as implemented, not as conceived – has been in this case actively damaging.”
Ruth pointed out how a succession of education secretaries had pledged to improve Scotland’s standing, yet this week’s report found the results were the worst on record.
And with results going in the wrong direction, the Scottish Conservatives have said the merits of CfE have to be independently scrutinised.
The party supports the aims behind CfE, but said the failure in its implementation and the results it produces must now be questioned.
Ms Sturgeon also claimed the OECD had described CfE as “right” for Scottish education.
In fact, the organisation clarified: “We emphasise that this summary is not an evaluation of CfE itself, and indeed the evidence is not available for such an evaluation.”
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said:
“After a decade of SNP control of education, the worst set of results on record have just been published.
“Education secretary after education secretary have said they are on top of this, but things just get worse.
“The biggest single educational reform under this SNP government has been Curriculum for Excellence.
“We cannot ignore the fact that, since it’s come in, standards have fallen.
“Our support for CfE can no longer be taken for granted – the entire project now has to be put on probation.
“If standards are declining because of CfE, the SNP has to be explain why it is sticking by it.”
Scottish Conservative shadow education secretary 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 PISA study outlining declining education standards under the SNP was released earlier this week:
http://www.scottishconservatives.com/2016/12/global-league-table-reveals-snps-decade-of-neglect-on-education/
The OECD report which analysis CfE and was highlighted by both Ruth Davidson and Nicola Sturgeon in the chamber today:
https://www.oecd.org/education/school/Improving-Schools-in-Scotland-An-OECD-Perspective.pdf