Head hits back in ‘race to class’ Higher claims
A NEW exhibition has been unveiled at 25 King Street in the Merchant City.
Photojournalist Elaine Livingstone was joined by Paul Fletcher, chief executive of charity, Achieve More! Scotland, at the launch of the display, which runs until Sunday.
The exhibition highlights the many success stories of the Glasgow-based group.
Achieve More! Scotland delivers programmes of diversionary activity to young people from areas of high social deprivation. A HEAD TEACHER has hit back at claims pupils faced a physical race to gain a place in a Higher class.
It was claimed that S5 pupils at a Glasgow school were gaining access to a Human Biology class on a first-come, first-served basis.
But Ian Anderson, head of Bellahouston Academy, said pupils were counted into an oversubscribed class on only two occasions.
The situation arose after 42 pupils applied to study Higher Human Biology – but practical subject class sizes are capped at 20.
Mr Anderson said: “So as not to disappoint any pupils, the biology department came up with a solution to allow all 42 pupils opting to sit higher biology and increased the staffing level to meet the demand.
“On the two occasions since the beginning of term when all pupils turned up for the class, two of the pupils were taught the higher course by another biology teacher in National 5 class.”
However, the situation was called “very concerning” and “farcical” by opposition politicians.
Parents of pupils involved said youngsters were counted into class and the last two to arrive diverted into the National 5 class, a level below Higher.
Now, after the prelim exams, two pupils have decided not to take Higher and have joined the National 5 class, meaning the situation is no longer an issue.
Soryia Siddique, Labour spokeswoman for schools and further education, said the incident is a reflection of the city-wide teacher shortage.
Ms Siddique said: “It’s very concerning that pupils may be disadvantaged in their subject choice.
“It is important that pupils are able to make their subject choices, since this may also impact their attainment, career choice and life chances.
“In light of teacher vacancies, there must be plans to ensure pupils’ choices are met, including in STEM subjects which are linked to the skills shortage and the economic growth sector.”
More than 100 teaching vacancies lay empty in Glasgow for more than three months and secondary school teaching numbers have been cut by six per cent in the past year.
Although the issue has been resolved, Glasgow Region MSP Annie Wells said it was still a concerning situation for pupils to face.
Ms Wells said: “It’s farcical to think of pupils being physically counted as they come to class.
“It’s worrying that had it not been for this rather bizarre arrangement, two pupils may not have been able to study Higher Human Biology at all.
“In the wider context of secondary school teacher cuts and a large number of teacher vacancies in Glasgow, parents will want reassurance that demand for popular subjects can be met.”