Pupils speak out against strict subject choices at Lanarkshire school
Scottish pupils are aggrieved as they face restricted subject choices in their senior phase of school.
Donald, a fourth year pupil at a Lanarkshire school, explained that he was disappointed last year when he met constricted options for his National 5s.
He said: “I wasn’t able to take the subjects that I originally wanted to because two of my choices were in the same column. But, when my sister, who is two years older, choose her subjects she could just basically choose anything she wanted and then the timetables were constructed around everyone’s first choice.”
With the distinct columns limiting choice at Donald’s school, it is no longer an option on the form for a pupil to choose to take the three science subjects in forth year.
Erin, Donald’s sister also came up against limitations as she entered sixth year and explained that pupils had to “fight to take the subjects they wanted to.”
She said: “There were people in my class who had to write letters to the school and come up and see the teachers to be able to take the subjects they wanted to.”
This reaction comes as MSPs announce they are to consider whether there has been a narrowing of subject choice in Scotland’s schools.
The Education and Skills Committee at the Scottish Parliament said an inquiry will be held into what impact subject choice in schools is having on young people.
The investigation will examine the extent of subject choice restrictions and the rationale behind it.
The committee is concerned a reduction in subject choice as pupils enter the senior phase of school (S4-S6) can potentially impact on their qualifications for college, university and the workplace.
Teachers, parents and pupils will be included in the inquiry to find out whether a narrowing is taking place and what this means in practice and will review the level of uptake of particular subjects.
This announcement comes as many Scottish pupils consider their options on subject choice for the next academic year.
Committee convener Clare Adamson said: “Subject choice may seem like a small issue but it is one which can have far-reaching consequences.
“Ensuring that our young people can achieve to their full potential is something that we all want to see.
“For young people to have the perception that their future options may be limited by the subject choices that they can take at school, is something that must be avoided.
“We want to hear about the impact of the availability of particular subjects as well as what factors influence subject choice, such as school size, local decision-making and timetabling.”
Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith said: “The decline in subject choice is one of the biggest concerns being raised by parents across Scotland and it’s something we’ve been raising with the SNP for several months now.”
She claimed pupils from poorer areas are losing out the most.
She added: “Nicola Sturgeon has made cutting the attainment gap her key priority, but how can children from poorer backgrounds progress if subjects in key areas aren’t on offer?”
Labour’s education spokesman Iain Gray said: “This is an important step and the committee needs to ensure that difficult questions are asked not just about the unintended consequences of curriculum for excellence but also about the impact of teacher shortages on narrowing subject choice.
“With overworked and underpaid teachers leaving the profession, pupils have missed out on studying subjects they could flourish in.
“That has not been helped by £1.5 billion of local authority cuts since 2011 from the SNP government in Edinburgh, and will not be helped by another £230 million of cuts this coming year.”
An EIS spokesperson said: “The EIS believes that Scotland’s children and young people should have access to a rich and diverse curriculum in school. As a consequence of an underlying principle of curriculum for excellence, it is clear that schools are responding to the needs and interests of their own pupils. This means that curricular models will vary between local authorities and within some local authorities. In order to be best prepared for a life after education, Scotland’s children and young people need to have access to a wide-ranging and flexible learning experience.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We look forward to engaging with the inquiry.
“It will be important to ensure that all the learning opportunities for young people in the senior phase of school are considered.
“Young people now have more options to get a much broader range of qualifications – not just at school but also at college and through apprenticeships.”
By Alison Gilchrist
