National exam update

This has been an eventful week for the Scottish education sector. Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Michael Russell MSP, unveiled a new £3.5m support package to help ensure that teachers and schools are better prepared for the new national exams. However, plans to allow schools to delay implementation by a year were also unveiled this week. While this delay has been welcomed by some, including opposition parties, parents’ groups have called on schools to press ahead with the new curriculum because of fears that uncertainty could undermine children’s learning. You can read Mr Russell’s thoughts on curriculum for excellence and the Scottish education system in today’s Scotsman at: http://www.scotsman.com/news/mike-russell-leading-young-to-a-fulfilling-future-1-2191646