The frequency of examinations in Scottish secondary education should be “significantly” curtailed, with an end altogether for exams for those S4 pupils who intend to study at Higher level, according to a long-awaited report.
The Hayward independent review of assessment and qualifications said pupils should no longer undergo exams for three consecutive years in S4, S5 and S6. The report warned this was “too much” and encouraged pupils to “learn in formulaic ways”.
The interim report of the review, chaired by Louise Hayward, professor of educational assessment and innovation at the University of Glasgow, said the existing “two-term dash” to most examinations was an “unacceptable reality” that placed undue stress on learners.
The document also raised the possibility of “introducing a degree of choice in the form of assessment for a qualification”, but stopped short of calling for an end to exams altogether. It stated there should be a revised “balance between internal and external assessment”, with students only undergoing exams when they exit a subject.
