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A comprehensive package of support for teachers, including events and best practice examples, will be available to help them implement assessment for curriculum for excellence.

The package, including a commitment to provide a funding boost to help pay for additional local work, is designed to make sure teachers are able to maximise the new assessment system to raise overall standards and attainment as well as assessing and explaining pupils' overall skills and knowledge.

Education Secretary Michael Russell said:

"It is vitally important that young people who leave school have the skills they need for life and work as well as being able to write essays and pass exams.

"Curriculum for Excellence is all about making sure pupils are prepared for life in general and helping them to learn from everyday things and it reflects the good practice of what's already happening in our schools.

"The new assessment framework is designed to recognise and develop pupils' skills and knowledge across the board. The system will provide more opportunities for pupils to demonstrate their ability to think and solve problems as well as pass exams.

"Of course, teachers will be the real key to the success of the new Assessment Framework. That's why I am also putting in place a wide-ranging and strong package of support to help them including a clear timetable for provision of detailed materials.

"I am also giving a commitment today that I will provide a funding boost to help pay for the additional local work that needs to be done. This will support teachers in implementing the quality assurance and moderation process that underpins the new Assessment Framework.

"This will be backed up by events organised by Learning and Teaching Scotland to promote and enhance understanding of the Framework. We will also make assessment examples available on the website in the summer term- showing pupils work assessed against the standards and expectations in the priority areas of literacy and numeracy and health and wellbeing.

"We are developing a new online National Assessment resource to develop teachers' professional skills in assessment. And we are also providing a fourth extra in-service day to help teachers prepare for the new system.

"But, most importantly, we will continue to talk to people on the ground, to listen to any concerns raised and to ensure they are fully addressed.

"The new curriculum and assessment framework will build on all that is good in Scottish Education and make sure it truly is the best it can be for the pupils of today and tomorrow - which I am sure is what we all want to achieve."

Bernard McLeary, Chief Executive of Learning and Teaching Scotland, said:

"This is an essential resource for teachers and other practitioners as part of the overall implementation of Curriculum for Excellence.

"In order to move forward, it is imperative that assessment meets the needs of all learners. Reflecting this, LTS is working closely with the Scottish Government, education authorities and other partners to ensure that practitioners have the support they need to create an effective assessment system which raises standards and expectations, promotes greater depth of learning, and provides a strong focus on skills development."

The Assessment Framework and associated paper on Quality Assurance and Moderation take full account of the professional advice of the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board - which is made up of representatives from a wide range of Scottish interests in education including the EIS, SSTA, SLS, ADES, SOLACE, and AHDS.

This approach will require significant and sustained activity by national bodies, local authorities and schools. Local Government is fully committed to delivery of Curriculum for Excellence. Its representatives on Management Board support this approach to moderation.

In recognition of the additional activity associated with introducing and operating a moderation scheme, as well as meeting the costs of national work the Cabinet Secretary has given a commitment to transfer resources to local government to help pay for additional local work and to ensure that teachers have the time required to undertake this activity.

Discussions with local authorities and other partners are taking place and an amount will be announced in due course.

Local authorities will continue to prioritise CPD towards development and implementation of Curriculum for Excellence including assessment and moderation.

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