Scottish education faces a “genuine risk” of being “left behind” if it does not pick up the pace of reform and implement the 2023 Hayward report in full, an influential group of Scottish secondary headteachers has told education secretary Jenny Gilruth.
In an email to Ms Gilruth, the BOCSH group calls for ongoing reforms of education in Scotland to be “significantly accelerated” and for the Hayward recommendations on qualifications and assessment to be implemented in full.
This comes after the education secretary set out the Scottish government response to Hayward in September, and confirmed that some recommendations - such as an end to National 5 exams - would not be taken forward.
Around 20 heads make up BOCSH - which stands for “building on collaborations, supporting headteachers” - and their email, sent yesterday, tells Ms Gilruth it is “disheartening” that many headline Hayward recommendations “have yet to be fully embraced”.
‘Bold and transformative’ action needed
They state: “Schools are currently facing increasing challenges, including reduced attendance, rising numbers of [additional support needs], more homeschooling, and behaviours of concern - all of which potentially indicate that the system is no longer fit for purpose and that reform is needed sooner rather than later.
“This is a crucial moment for Scottish education, one that demands bold and transformative action, yet the approach thus far appears overly cautious.”
The government proposals “lack a clear strategic vision for the kind of cultural transformation required”, says BOCSH, before addressing specific concerns.
“The restructuring of the Scottish Qualifications Authority is an important step, but there is a risk that it could amount to little more than a rebranding exercise,” the heads say.
Meanwhile, the separation of the inspectorate from Education Scotland marks a “positive development”. However, “the future role of Education Scotland itself remains unclear”, especially in relation to the proposed Centre for Teaching Excellence”. (Tomorrow, Tes Scotland will publish a detailed piece on the reform of Education Scotland.)
Scotland could be ‘left behind’
BOCSH - many of whose concerns about reform were echoed during a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee today - notes that other countries are “advancing rapidly with their educational reforms”, adding: “There is a genuine risk that, by delaying significant changes, Scotland will be left behind.”
One of the biggest missed opportunities, it says, is the “failure” to tackle the “misalignment” between the “broad general education” and the “senior phase” of secondary school, and also the “longstanding need for parity of esteem between vocational and academic pathways”.
BOCSH states: “Without this, the system will continue to perpetuate an outdated and hierarchical model that fails to serve the needs of all young people.”
The decision to persist with the internationally unusual model of three consecutive years of high-stakes exams is “concerning”; reducing the number of high-stakes assessments, particularly at National 5, “would relieve pressure on both students and staff, while elevating the status of National 4 qualifications”.
The BOCSH heads say it is “vital that we broaden the measures of success for young people and schools”.
They sum up: “Scottish education has, for too long, been subject to incremental reforms that fail to address the system’s fundamental challenges. The system is now under considerable strain and no longer adequately meets the needs of our young people.”
The heads acknowledge the hard financial realities facing Scotland, but insist that “investment in education is an investment in the future prosperity and wellbeing of the country”.
A Scottish government spokesperson said: “Later this year, we will publish a long-term strategy, which will set out a range of proposals focused on improving teaching, learning and assessment to ensure that they are fit of the future.
“This comes in addition to the work that is already being done through the Education (Scotland) Bill, which will see the creation of a new qualifications body and independent inspectorate.”
The spokesperson added: “As this bill undergoes Parliamentary scrutiny, work to refocus Education Scotland’s functions and establish the Centre of Teaching Excellence continues at pace. We are also adopting a pragmatic approach to evolving qualifications and assessments to ensure that the proposed changes are both deliverable and support better outcomes for young people.”
Education secretary Jenny Gilruth “will meet with teachers and school leaders over the coming weeks to ensure that change will benefit those delivering teaching in schools”.
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