HC Deb 25 March 1998 vol 309 cc191-2W
Mr. Gorrie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet representatives of teachers of English to discuss the assessment procedure proposed for Higher Still English. [35190]

Mr. Wilson

I meet regularly with representatives of teacher associations to discuss Higher Still and other issues.

Mr. Gorrie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received expressing concern about the content and assessment procedures proposed for Higher Still English; and what response he has made to them.[351921

Mr. Wilson

I have received a number of representations from teachers about the content and assessment procedures proposed for Higher Still English and Communication.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to him on 6 March 1998, Official Report, columns 777–78, for my response to these representations.

Mr. Gorrie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the methods of assessment proposed for Higher Still will maintain the educational standards currently expected of fifth and sixth year secondary pupils. [35214]

Mr. Wilson

Higher Still is designed to raise standards of achievement in schools and colleges, leading to more passes and better grades. This will be achieved without compromise on standards of assessment.

The benchmark for the new Higher is the existing Higher Grade. I commissioned research on the benchmarking of standards from the Scottish Qualifications Authority. This has confirmed that Higher Still requirements are appropriately set against the existing Higher Grade.

In order to ensure that staff are familiar with the new assessment system, staff development has been offered to principal teachers and subject leaders. A National Assessment Bank containing nationally validated assessment instruments for use in schools and colleges is being developed. These will help to ensure that internal assessment is consistent with national standards. The Scottish Qualifications Authority is currently working on external assessment exemplars drawing heavily on the existing Higher Grade and CSYS for new qualifications at Higher and Advanced Higher levels.

Quality assurance of both the internal and external elements of Higher Still is a function of the Scottish Qualifications Authority. The Scottish Qualifications Authority will operate a variety of techniques to maintain standards involving, for instance, the benchmarking of external assessment to ensure the maintenance of standards and the moderation of internal assessment in school and colleges. Research carried out by the Scottish Council for Research in Education has shown that the Authority's predecessor (the Scottish Examination Board) was successful in maintaining assessment standards through a period of change in the qualifications structure. I am confident that the Authority will be able to capitalise on this experience and be equally successful.