“I know from direct engagement as Cabinet Secretary that many young people prefer examinations over continuous assessment.”
That is how Jenny Gilruth felt about it when detailing her decision to keep S4 exams yesterday. There had been expectations that the exam system would be reformed, with the Scottish Greens describing the decision as a “missed opportunity” to move one from a “Victorian-era exam system”.
Professor Louise Hayward, who led the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment (IRQA), recommended that 15 and 16-year-olds be graded on coursework as well as other areas including volunteering as part of a “Scottish Diploma of Achievement”.
The report came out in June last year and it has taken until now for the Scottish Government to respond to it.
In her statement to parliament, Ms Gilruth has said examinations would remain part of the overall national approach to education.
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There was criticism of the approach from Scottish Labour’s education spokesperson Pam Duncan-Glancy as well as the Green’s Ross Greer and Scottish Tory Liam Kerr who all felt it was a missed opportunity to bring serious reform to the table.
But should school pupils be judged on end of year exams or would continuous assessment be a more fair approach?
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