Challenging times ahead

As schools across Scotland re-opened, teachers in the secondary sector face the prospect of a challenging year ahead, particularly with the arrival of a completely new set of qualifications.

While the introduction of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) has been a gradual process, it is difficult to implement such a major programme of curricular change at a time of financial restraint across the education sector. Many schools have seen their staffing levels reduced, and resource budgets have suffered significant cuts, placing a great deal of additional strain on teachers.

While the vast majority of teachers support CfE and believe in its aims, many have major concerns about the support that has been provided to allow schools to deliver. The increasing workload is one of the most frequent issues being raised by teachers. In many parts of the country, a mini-industry has arisen around the administration, recording and measuring of CfE progress.