I admit it; I was genuinely caught off guard by the cabinet minister’s announcement yesterday that there would be no external assessment at National 4 level (the old SG General / Int1). What do I think about it? To be honest I don’t know yet. I do think the present system needs improvement, too many youngsters flounder in S3 and S4 doing courses of little relevance or worth. I also recognise that change does not necessarily mean improvement.

I’m old enough to remember CSE mode 3 where courses where devised, and exams set and marked by teachers. I believe that in America and other countries school exams are set and marked in house. Even in Britain it happens at University level. I am very very happy to accept that there are ways of recognising attainment and achievement other than our current model.

With all of these alternative systems there is some form of internal recognition and external moderation, and there is the rub. At present the only model for this that many know is the current SQA model. My own view is that almost everything that currently poses as internal assessment is plagued with problems. It can involve hours of teacher effort that too often serves to produce a tick in a box rather than reflect any real skill or learning by the pupils.

What do I think of the proposal to ‘assess National level 4 primarily through course assessment’? I’ll tell you when I have seen the arrangements from the SQA and can understand how it will work. Internal assessment can work, it does in many countries. It can recognise real achievement without burying teachers in bureaucracy. Can Scotland find and use a meaningful and manageable system – I do hope so.