MSPs studied the exam system

The Scottish Parliament's education committee has called for a shift from the current "overemphasis" on an academic school curriculum.

Instead, it suggested more attention should be paid to developing abilities like "thinking skills" and "citizenship skills", meeting the needs of individual children.

The findings are in a report on the purposes of education by the all-party committee.

It follows an inquiry in which the MSPs took evidence from teachers, schools, pupils and other groups.

The MSPs found the education system to have been successful in raising levels of aspiration and achievement but called for a constant review of how that is delivered.

"The inquiry found that currently there appears to an overemphasis on an academic, subject-centred curriculum, with too much stress placed on memorising of factual content, assessment and examination of individual pupils, and audit of, and setting of, targets for the system as a whole," said their report.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS Reducing the influence of assessment, testing and examinations Developing alternative approaches to the organisation of the curriculum Encouraging the development of a wide range of skills and personal qualities Establishing education as a continuous process throughout life Developing a more individualised service Giving young people a say Developing a new infrastructure suited to the 21st century

Reviewing the evidence given to their inquiry, the committee said there was no support for specialist schools of the type seen in some parts of England.

In Scotland, the present system works best for children in the pre-school years and in the early stages of primary education, the report said.

The system works least well for those in secondary schools especially those in the first two years of secondary schooling.

The MSPs acknowledge the difficulty of squaring a wish for stability in the education system with the need for change.

"However, despite the widespread feeling that the system is overburdened by innovation, it is widely believed that fundamental change of the type that would make progress on those issues covered by consensus does not appear to be taking place," it said.

Karen Gillon, convener of the committee and Labour MSP for Clydesdale, said: "Our committee wanted to stimulate a discussion on developing a practical vision for Scottish education over the next decade.

"We were extremely pleased by the response we got from schools, parents, pupils and other groups."

Industry unease

However, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has raised concerns over the report.

CBI Scotland director Iain McMillan complained that none of its recommendations made any reference to the contribution education could make to the growth of the economy and the needs of business.

"Once again, a committee of the Scottish Parliament has shown that, not only does it not regard the future of Scotland's economy as paramount, but these vital issues are not even on its radar screen," he said.