The Head of Scotland's school inspectorate has hit out at East Renfrewshire Council over its refusal to follow official advice on the introduction of new school exams.

Bill Maxwell, Head of Education Scotland, has warned the council that they risk "undermining" public confidence in the new system, which will see the introduction of new exams called National Four and National Five that will replace standard grades, the Herald Scotland reports.

"I am concerned that some aspects of the proposals could be interpreted as a lack of commitment to the nationally agreed programme," the letter from Mr Maxwell to East Renfrewshire Council stated. "In particular, I regret that the council has decided its schools will not implement the new National Four and National Five qualifications on the time schedule agreed by the Curriculum for Excellence management board and which is being adopted by all of the other authorities in Scotland."

He added: "Whilst I understand the particular context of your current qualifications policy in which this decision is set, I am concerned that the council's decision carries a risk of undermining the collective national effort to build confidence in the new pattern of qualifications."

The new school exams will see a replacement of the Standard Grades as part of the roll out of the Curriculum for Excellence.

Larry Flanagan, General Secretary Designate of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), said that all councils should now be given a one year delay in line with East Renfrewshire.

On Wednesday, Mike Russell the Education Secretary, said he was prepared to treat the council as a "special case" during the transition to the new exams.

East Renfrewshire Council were unavailable for comment.

To read more about the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), try these links:

• Curriculum for Excellence help for schools
• Confusion continues as Curriculum for Excellence implemented
• Infant Curriculum for Excellence is Top of the Class

Alternatively, if you are having trouble dealing with changes in your school, you may find these links helpful:

• How do you deal with change
• Responding positively to change
• Managing stress in the workplace: change