Secondary staff to help out primary colleagues?

The proposal by councils has been broadly welcomed by unions, with the caveat that it is carefully managed and “flexibility” does not end up meaning overwork.

Primary teachers often lack knowledge and understanding of maths and science, and consequently confidence in those areas, according to a report by the Science and Engineering Education Advisory Group in 2012.

Languages are also of particular concern in Scotland, given the government’s stated ambition that all primary pupils learn two languages as well as English, the European Union’s so called 1+2 policy.

Budget cuts and a drop in the number of classroom and support staff have reinforced the argument for allowing local authorities more flexibility across different sectors, the council group Cosla said.
“We support local authorities and schools having the flexibility necessary to deliver on the aims and ambitions of the curriculum,” a Cosla spokesman said.