Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 11 June 2019
11 Jun 2019 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Primary 1 Standardised Assessments
First, I am accepting today that there is a need to strengthen the rationale for the assessments. That point came out of the Education and Skills Committee’s inquiry, and I am happy to accept it.
The second issue that Mr Greer raised is about the nature of how the assessments are described, and he accurately reflects the exchange that he and I had at committee. However, I want to put it into a little bit of context. I was asked whether the tests are formative or summative, and I said that they are formative, for all the reasons that I have just explained to Iain Gray. I also accepted the point—it is simply an acceptance of reality—that, if all the numbers are added up, they inevitably become summative. However, that is not their purpose. That was simply an honest answer to a question that I was asked at committee.
Let me be absolutely crystal clear with Parliament that they are formative assessments to inform teacher judgment, and I believe that they add a valuable component—particularly in relation to the question of moderation, about which I replied to Liz Smith—in supporting teachers in their professional judgment.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh)
NPA
The next item of business is a statement by John Swinney, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, on an update on primary 1 standardised assessments....
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (John Swinney)
SNP
On 19 September 2018, Parliament debated the Scottish national standardised assessments and agreed to a motion that called for two distinct actions: a halt t...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I remind members that we are very pushed for time this afternoon. After the opening questioners for each party have made their opening remarks, I would like ...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I thank the cabinet secretary for his statement and for a copy of the independent review. The cabinet secretary stated that, on 19 September last year, th...
John Swinney
SNP
David Reedy’s review has done exactly what Parliament asked us to do, which was to look at the educational evidence on this question. That was the basis of m...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the cabinet secretary for early sight of his statement. The cabinet secretary says that the review does exactly what Parliament told him to do, but,...
John Swinney
SNP
I have accepted that there has to be a clear rationale about the assessments. David Reedy reinforces the argument that I advanced to the committee that they ...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
I thank the Deputy First Minister for his statement and accompanying papers. Although the Government’s primary objective for the tests is for them to inform ...
John Swinney
SNP
First, I am accepting today that there is a need to strengthen the rationale for the assessments. That point came out of the Education and Skills Committee’s...
Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I thank the cabinet secretary for his statement. Will he explain to Parliament why he hired an academic from the English educational regime that nationalists...
John Swinney
SNP
First, I simply offered David Reedy’s independent credibility as a leading expert on questions of literacy as justification for recruiting a man of significa...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
All the parties have outlined their positions, so I ask for just questions from now on, please. I call Jenny Gilruth, to be followed by Alison Harris.
Jenny Gilruth (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP)
SNP
Given that the standardised assessments replaced what was already used in 28 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities, how will the Scottish Government ensure that...
John Swinney
SNP
In the project, we have had excellent co-operation with our local authority partners, which have been involved in all the preparation of the standardised ass...
Alison Harris (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Despite the independent review, a survey in February this year revealed that 41 per cent of teachers disagreed that the tests were beginning to inform teachi...
John Swinney
SNP
I am not sure whether Alison Harris is one of the members who took up the opportunity to see a demonstration of the assessments. If she was, she will have se...
Tom Arthur (Renfrewshire South) (SNP)
SNP
Will the Deputy First Minister outline how standardised assessments at primary 1 can support teachers in closing the attainment gap in schools in my constitu...
John Swinney
SNP
Because the diagnostic information readily identifies areas where young people may have challenges in their education performance, it will help teachers to u...
Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
David Reedy concludes that it would be beneficial for the tests to continue, albeit with important modifications and the establishment of additional guidance...
John Swinney
SNP
Perhaps the most important modification relates to the length of the literacy assessment. As a matter of urgency, we will discuss that with the company that ...
Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
SNP
Will the Deputy First Minister outline how the Scottish Government can ensure that all local authorities, including North Lanarkshire Council, integrate the ...
John Swinney
SNP
I am anxious to separate out two issues that have become somewhat conjoined. One issue is the importance of a play-based curriculum for young people, which i...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
That concludes questions on the statement. I apologise to Johann Lamont, Oliver Mundell, Rona Mackay and John Mason, who have been unable to ask their questi...