The SNP has attacked plans to reform the further education curriculum in Scotland.

The party's shadow education minister attacked plans which would "kill off up to half of Higher subjects".

Fiona Hyslop added that the move "smacks of teacher shortages and cost cutting" at the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

"Rationing the curriculum will prevent flexibility and choice for pupils," she said.

"We do need relevance in the curriculum, but once these Highers are killed off it will be very difficult to reinstate them in the future.

"Intelligent use of cluster schools could retain choice in the curriculum but the key challenges for the current review is how to ensure modern relevant skills of understanding and learning marry with the core skills of literacy, numeracy and communication.

"Pupils will learn these skills better in their subject of choice, not from an executive's gerrymandered curriculum which has been driven by cost cutting."