School league table situation is complex

I think it is an over-simplification to point the finger at Campbeltown Grammar School (CGS) as being a possible reason for people not wanting to move to Campbeltown.

As I am sure you are aware, there were no national exams last year and grades were based on teachers’ assessments. One might wonder how it could be that CGS dropped roughly 100 places in the league table, while Lochgilphead High School jumped 100 places.

How did the processes compare between the two schools and how could that have been possible? The issue certainly bears looking into.

In addition, it seems like the Courier and local politicians are quick to blame the school and teachers, while ignoring aspects such as local culture, where education sometimes seems to be less valued, where many children seem to be just biding their time until they can leave at 16 and work on the farm or on the fishing boat or in the local Tesco.

Roughly 95 to 96 per cent of CGS pupils leave for a ‘positive destination’ but for about a third of those, that destination is employment, rather than higher education or further training.

Pupils who have no intention of seeking higher or further education are not motivated to engage in or work towards higher qualifications.

Teachers cannot force students to take higher classes and higher exams, cannot force students to engage with learning, cannot force parents to engage and to encourage their children to engage academically.

As an example, in the follow-up inspection report last year, the report stated: ‘Staff continue to make improvements to the curriculum in the broad general education from S1 to S3.

‘The school has increased the range of learner pathways and qualifications that young people can choose in the senior phase.

‘Young people in S4 to S6 can now take six courses instead of five.

‘Young people can choose from a range of Skills for Work programmes and Foundation Apprenticeships provided by Argyll College and the Argyll and Bute Learning and Development Team, but uptake has been limited.’

As the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water...

The situation is much more complex than is being presented in your paper and elsewhere and this does a disservice to the school, teachers and school management and by extension to pupils, parents and the community by simply assuming the drop in the league table is due solely to a ‘failing’ school.

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