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Low confidence among teachers over exams

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A new survey has suggested there is a crisis in teacher confidence over the new higher exam qualifications.

Seamus Searson, general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, claimed the “alarming” results illustrated why the new advanced highers should be run in tandem with the existing qualifications for an extra year.

He said the union would raising its concerns with Education Secretary Angela Constance after 54% of 915 people asked said they were not confident in their ability to deliver appropriate course materials.

A total of 68% of 909 people said they were not confident in their ability to assess pupils for the new higher qualifications

And 42% of 898 respondents said they were presenting pupils this year in the old higher qualifications

The survey showed that 92% of 919 people believed that school working time agreements gave insufficient time to implement the new higher courses/qualifications.

Mr Searson said: “We continue to be alarmed by the clear lack of confidence being expressed by our members particularly in terms of the materials required and in their ability to assess pupils in the new higher qualifications.

“Such alarming rates of lack of confidence must be acted upon – if a teacher lacks confidence then this will be quickly transferred to the young people.”

Robert Macmillan, SSTA acting president, said delaying implementation of the qualifications would demonstrate to teachers that the government was “genuinely listening to their concerns”.

Scottish Conservative young people spokeswoman Liz Smith said: “The findings of this survey are very disturbing and I am sure parents will be very concerned.

“It’s clear with such a lack of confidence among teachers about this that schools should be allowed flexibility – logic dictates that.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said it had provided “unprecedented support” for the new qualifications, including an extra £10million and three additional in-service days for secondary schools.

“SQA and Education Scotland have continually listened to teacher feedback and addressed concerns and are continuing to do so,” he added.

“The new National Qualifications were successfully introduced last year, thanks to the professionalism of our teachers.

“The advanced higher has always been a very different type of qualification, with an emphasis on independent learning, and with a substantially smaller ‘taught’ component than for other qualifications.

“It is also generally taken by a relatively small number of learners, so there is no reason to expect that the introduction of new Advanced Highers should create unmanageable extra pressures on teachers next year.”