DUNFERMLINE and West Fife MP Douglas Chapman has accused Fife councillors of “political vandalism” after a move which could see controversial Primary 1 tests scrapped.

At last week’s full Fife Council meeting, members voted through an amendment to a motion proposed by senior Labour councillor Helen Law which asked education services to prepare a report outlining how withdrawal from the tests can be achieved.

It stated: “Council notes that Fife has undertaken play-based assessments for the P1 children over a period of years as part of its educational approach.

“Council further notes the concerns raised by teachers and parents about the introduction of a new standardised scheme of P1 assessments, the view of the Scottish Parliament that these tests should be withdrawn and concerns that the introduction of the new standardised assessments could undermine the tried and tested approach to play-based assessments in Fife.

“In light of these concerns, council believes that Fife should withdraw from participation in SNSA assessments for P1 children if possible and asks for the executive director of Education and Children’s Services to prepare a report for the next meeting of the Education and Children’s Services Committee outlining whether and how this could be achieved.”

Mr Chapman, a former chair of the education and children’s services committee, blasted Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors who had voted the motion through.

“Fife has always carried out some form of assessment in the early years which helps teachers to assess the needs of their pupils and so plan for effective learning,” he said.

“This decision by LibDem, Labour and Tory councillors which removes a way of assisting teachers to identify learning needs is an act of political vandalism.

“This can only disadvantage every single primary one child in the long run. The new assessments introduced by the Scottish Government to provide a consistent practice across Scotland would also give Fife Council a source of rich data.

"I also believe this approach would save Fife Council £100,000 every year compared with the costs charged by the previous testing provider.

“I know these same political parties have been whipping up unnecessary concerns over these assessments with parents. In Scotland, we have a highly professional teacher workforce and any teacher worth their salt would not carry out these assessments in a way that would create stress in their pupils.

“The way in which these concerns have been manufactured has been irresponsible in the extreme by people who want to undermine the Scottish Government and education in Scotland.”

Cllr Law said staff, parents and teaching unions were against the formalised national testing of five-year-olds.

“When children can be reduced to tears and many educationalists are saying that national testing is wrong, then surely we must listen,” she said. “Is national testing the beginning of the slippery slope of centralising education?

“Surely assessments by a class teacher must be more informative than sitting a five-year-old in front of a computer for up to 40 minutes which will be as much about their computer skills as anything else.

“Many countries do not start formal education till age six or even later. With teacher shortages and reducing budgets these tests are expensive and unnecessary.”