School staff in Angus are being forced to take time off as they battle stress caused by the controversial Curriculum for Excellence.
Their woes have been reflected at a conference highlighting “a never-ending mountain” of work needed to bring in a new Higher Grade.
Angus councillor David May said a number of departments across Angus, particularly those dealing with technical and science subjects, will be unable to comply after the summer holidays.
He spoke out ahead of a full council meeting which will hear how the county’s schools will meet the demands of the changing educational landscape, and following a meeting of the Educational Institute of Scotland which concluded in Perth on Friday.
“I have heard that many of the staff in schools are under considerable stress,” Mr May said.
“Some are even off work from school with stress due to the problems they have encountered with the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence.”
“I have heard from our neighbouring authorities of Dundee and Perth that many of their schools have particular subject departments, such as biology and technical, which have delayed the introduction of the new higher by a year, as the departments do not feel ready to start it.”
Mr May has asked for the Angus position to be made clear at the next meeting of full council, next Thursday.
He said: “I asked (communities director Margo Williamson) what the Angus position was with this I certainly do not wish our staff to feel that they are railroaded into introducing the new Higher before they believe they are ready.”
Speaking during the EIS conference in Perth, Angus representative David Drysdale said the county’s teaching staff have major concerns.
“There might be the will to deliver the new Higher across our schools but there are challenges to that, and the Scottish Qualifications Authority have come in for some criticism,” he said.
CfE was introduced to make subjects suit pupil interest leading to a massive change in what is taught along with the introduction of new exams.
Labour councillor Margaret Thomson said she had heard from education staff that they are asking their schools to defer CfE by the maximum of one year.
She said: “I can speak specifically for biologists, where the arrangements for the new higher are not ready, and the assessments are not ready and won’t be till September.”
At the latest meeting of the children and learning committee, convener Sheena Welsh acknowledged a number of people “feel quite let down by the SQA” and CfE has been “spoiled slightly” by the body’s tardiness in producing course materials.
Mr May accused the body of “moving the goalposts.”
An Angus Council spokeswoman confirmed that a report on school readiness for CfE will be brought before the next meeting of full council next Thursday.