The leaders of Scotland's largest teaching union have been told to reconsider their stance on internal assessments for the Higher Still qualifications.

Delegates at the EIS annual conference in Dundee have already criticised the executive council's decision not to go ahead with plans to boycott the tests.

They have now told EIS officials to rethink an emergency motion which called for a "wait and see" approach.

Teachers say pupils are under too much pressure

Teachers told the conference that they and their pupils were struggling to cope with the burden of assessments.

Pupils sitting the new Highers face at least three internal assessments before they sit their final exams.

Teachers warn that the pressure of getting them through the tests means there is not enough time left to teach the course.

At last year's EIS conference, delegates voted to boycott the assessments unless the burden was reduced.

But members were never balloted and on Thursday the union's executive council was accused of thwarting the will of the conference by deciding to call off the action.