AT THE end of August the Rennie household became a much quieter place as the younger members of the family returned to school and college. Without naming names, this was a painful process for some.
The change from lazy mornings in bed to early starts and school uniform was not an easy one.
I am sure this is something that many families across Clackmannanshire will have experienced. But it is both teachers and pupils who are potentially facing the biggest change this academic year with SNP plans for the return of national standardised testing.
The EIS teaching union has made clear that they oppose these moves. They have warned of a return to teaching to the test and that “… it will be almost impossible to put in place safeguards which would stop national assessments leading to a league table, target-setting agenda…”.
This is not the sort of education system that helps teachers or benefits pupils.
The Scottish Parent Teacher Council have also made clear that they don’t think testing in and of itself will help raise attainment.
I assumed that the EIS’ clear rejection of these plans would spark a rethink by the First Minister.
I am afraid not. When I asked Nicola Sturgeon whether she would reconsider her plans at Holyrood she declined.
When the First Minister was in opposition she complained about targets and league tables.
Back then, she said governments are attracted to things that are easy to measure and just as easy to manipulate.
She agreed that the aim too often was to come top of national league tables rather than serving pupils’ needs.
Her past self and the teachers union were at one, but not now. Now it seems only the Conservatives are on board with her on national testing and league tables.
I don’t doubt the commitment of the First Minister - and the Conservative party for that matter - to improving the quality of education that our children receive. When we see literacy and numeracy standards falling in our schools, this must be an urgent priority.
But when the experts warn you that your plans will not help improve standards, or ensure that children leave school ready for the world of work, you need to think again.
The First Minister was right on education targets when she was in opposition. She is wrong now.
I fear the consequences of a testing system and league tables that forces a return to the culture of teaching to the test which will put unbearable pressure on pupils from such an early age.
The scale of the challenge we face in closing the attainment gap is stark.
A pupil at a private school in Scotland today is twice as likely to get an A at higher than a student from a state school.
Pupils from well off families are twice as likely to go into higher education. But more testing is not the answer.
Instead we need to focus on the root causes of inequality.
That’s why I want to see a big investment a Scottish pupil premium, to give extra help to those pupils who need support most.
It is why I want to see an expansion of nursery education. That’s the positive agenda we should embrace.