Is the school subject gap cause for alarm?

Is the gap in subject choices at different schools really an issue? The answer is yes – and no. At first glance it seems alarming a pupil at one school can have 17 fewer subject choices than a pupil at a school just a few miles away.

And yes, it could be a disadvantage to a promising pupil at one school, who will graduate with fewer subjects than their counterpart down the road.

It is also true Courier Country, along with greater Scotland, suffers a shortage of teachers, but whether this has any bearing on the issue of subject choice is debatable.

There is no doubt it is political point-scoring on the part of the Conservatives to highlight this issue – that’s politics, after all – and the response is also interesting.

Simply put, the argument is that it is a matter of supply and demand.

With devolved powers, heads of schools have the authority to set their curriculum and tailor it according to the needs – and wishes – of the community they serve.

While we hope the framework for a strong education remains, including emphasis on crucial STEM subjects, surely head teachers can be trusted to know what their community wants?

Surely, too, school heads keep a watching brief on the evolving jobs market and skills requirements?

Perhaps the subject choice gap is not a cause for alarm.