Most teachers now forced to cover as many as 3 courses in one lesson

PUPILS studying for different qualifications are being taught together in threequarters of Scotland’s schools, research has found.

A majority of teachers are now forced to run lessons for National 4, National 5 and Higher-level students – in one classroom and at the same time.

A study by the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) shows that such ‘multi-course teaching’ is now the norm.

A survey of 1,247 teachers indicated that less than a quarter (23 per cent) of S4 lessons are dedicated to only one course being taught. But the SSTA said having two or three different qualifications taught during the same lesson is unfair to pupils trying to reach their full potential – and to teachers because of the additional burden on their workload.

SSTA general secretary Seamus Searson has called for an investigation into class sizes, curriculum design, timetables, national qualifications and staffing difficulties, as well as ‘the notion of pupil choice’.

He said: ‘This survey has highlighted the wide variance of practice that teachers are expected to work within despite concerns raised by teachers over a number of years.

‘Multi-course teaching has wrongly become the norm in most schools in Scotland.

‘It is concerning that, in a time when the focus is meeting the needs for all pupils, that only a minority of pupils are finding themselves in a class with all their peers following the same course.

‘The high number of classes with two or three courses being accommodated in a class in S4 should be a major concern for all.’

The SSTA survey found that 51 per cent of classes have two qualifications being taught at the same time, while another 21 per cent have three courses.

Responding to the research, Education Secretary John Swinney told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme: ‘Young people are going on, after they leave school, to a record level of positive outcomes in work, in training and in higher and further education.

‘So I think we have to judge what is the effect of multi-level teaching, which has been a feature of Scottish education for many, many years, in the context of the very high level of outcomes being achieved by young people.’

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: ‘Multi-level teaching has long been part of Scottish education and teachers are well-skilled to take account of the needs of their pupils.

‘There will be varying levels of prior attainment in any class.

‘During inspections, Education Scotland inspectors will evaluate the extent to which children and young people are being suitably supported and challenged.

‘Our review of the senior phase will help us to better understand how the curriculum is being implemented in schools and identify any areas for improvement.’

‘A major concern for us all’