Scottish Parliament e-Brief
Issue 162,
SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK
THE CHAMBER
Parliament
is in recess.
IN COMMITTEE
Parliament
is in recess.
SECTION 2 - NEWS
Moves
to reduce red tape in education
New measures to reduce the red tape burden on schools and colleges have been
unveiled.
Proposals
from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) for
11 subjects – including Geography, Computing and Information Systems and PE
– have been endorsed to reduce unnecessary assessment.
The National
Qualifications Steering Group (NQSG) report Review
of Initial Implementation of New National Qualifications recommended that
the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) should
review assessment arrangements for new national qualifications courses.
SQA
reviewed a total of 70 subjects covering over 200 courses and made significant
changes to reduce unnecessary demands on teachers, lecturers and pupils while
maintaining and improving quality. SQA identified 18
subjects for more fundamental review.
Eleven
subjects were covered in phase one of the major subject reviews (Accounting
& Finance, Administration, Computing, Information Systems, Craft &
Design, Geography, Media Studies, Music, PE, Psychology and Religious, Moral and
Philosophical Studies).
Internal and
external assessment and course structure have been revised to reduce the
assessment burden. Centres will be expected to implement the changes in session
2004/05, except for Music which will be implemented in 2005/06 along with
changes resulting from the phase two subject reviews.
First
minister at T in the Park
First Minister Jack McConnell joined more than 50,000 people at at T in the
Park, Scotland's biggest rock music festival and the country's premier outdoor
festival, at Balado near Kinross.
Mr McConnell
said:
"I’m
delighted to be here at T In The Park for its 10th
year. The organisers should be congratulated for creating one of the world's
best music festivals here in
"It is
the friendly festival and you only have to look at the top-class bands and
thousands of fans who have been attracted to
"T in
the Park is also great for the tourism industry with many in the audience coming
from outside the country.
"In its
first decade, the festival has achieved a similar status to the International
Festival as an event that puts
SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER BUSINESS
Parliament is in recess.
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