Pupils suffer a postcode lottery over study choices
SCOTLAND’S school pupils are facing a postcode lottery regarding the number of subjects they can study.
Research has revealed huge disparities in the number of different subjects offered by schools only a few miles apart.
One of the most striking examples is in Edinburgh, where pupils at Castlebrae Community High School in Craigmillar can choose from only eight subjects – fewer than any other school in Scotland – while those at Holy Rood High School just over one mile away are offered 27 subjects.
Perth High School pupils have the widest choice, with 38 courses on offer – 15 more than those at Crieff High or Kinross High in the same local authority area.
Scottish Tory education spokesman Liz Smith said: ‘There will always be some very understandable variation in subject choice across different schools but parents will be alarmed to see the extent of the variation in some local authorities.
‘They will be even more concerned when they learn there is some correlation between lower choice options and those local authorities experiencing higher teacher shortages.
‘Subject choice is clearly critical when it comes to SQA qualifications and entry to college, university and the workplace. It’s
‘The SNP must address this issue’
a very important part of any pupil’s education. The SNP must address this issue before more young people are adversely affected.’
The figures, obtained by the Scottish Tories via freedom of information requests, found the gap between the schools with the most subjects and those offering the least was 24 in the Highlands, 21 in Edinburgh, 16 in Dundee, 15 in Argyll and Bute and Perth and Kinross, and 13 in Glasgow and Aberdeen.
In April, it emerged there are 685 teacher vacancies in Scotland, including 411 in secondary schools.
But the Scottish Government said total teacher numbers increased from 50,717 in 2015 to 50,970 in 2016.
A spokesman added: ‘Curriculum for Excellence gives schools flexibility to offer different approaches to subject choices to meet the needs of pupils. Many schools have arrangements with other schools or colleges allowing young people to study courses that cannot be provided locally.’