Scotland’s flagship education policy is proving “disastrous” for children’s learning, according to an academic tasked with reviewing the system.
Lindsay Paterson, professor of Education Policy at Edinburgh University, criticised the Curriculum for Excellence and claimed it is causing pupils “to learn less than their counterparts in other countries than Scottish children did a generation or two ago.”
Mr Paterson will be part of a Ruth Davidson-ordered root and branch assessment of the curriculum alongside its architect, Keir Bloomer.
He told the BBC’s Sunday Politics Scotland programme: “All the evidence suggests that Curriculum for Excellence is at the core of the problem.
“That is the reason why we have seen really quite drastic falls in the levels of attainment of Scottish children compared with the past and compared with other countries.
“And we know from lots of international research that the kind of curriculum that curriculum for excellence is, that is skills rather than knowledge, is ultimately quite bad and even maybe disastrous for the attainment of children.
“So very quickly it ought to be learnt in Scotland from these international studies that the whole point of curriculum for excellence is misconceived and we need to fundamentally revise what is being done.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says education is her top priority but has faced criticism for what opponents claim is a neglect of children’s learning in favour of pursuing a second independence referendum.
The SNP’s Education Bill was meant to be published early in 2017, but John Swinney, the Education Secretary, has announced that will be delayed to give him time to “chew over” 1,100 responses to a school governance review
Ms Davidson, the Scottish Conservative leader, announced the major review at her party’s conference on Saturday.
It is understood the study will examine how the curriculum, introduced by the previous Labour and Liberal Democrat administration, works in practice.
Sources close to Ms Davidson have said she is keen on a new approach which puts teachers’ expertise ahead of the current child-centred approach.
James Dornan the SNP MSP and convener of Holyrood’s Education Committee, defended the current set up.
He said: “Curriculum for Excellence is certainly about giving that broader base and that easier way of learning for the child, and a more expansive way of learning for the child.
“But we still have to know that in certain subjects children are reaching benchmarks to make sure we can then target resources where they are required.
“I think Curriculum for Excellence has proven to be a great success in primary schools. It is starting to show that it is a success in secondary schools.”
