Pupils may return to fewer subjects

SUBJECT choice could be cut when pupils go back to school on a rota basis, sparking fears of a slide in educational standards.

The plan was revealed by director of education at Glasgow City Council, Maureen McKenna, who admitted lockdown had hit attainment. She also said teachers who are at home for health reasons could tutor children virtually as part of a hybrid system known as blended learning.

It is understood pupils would attend school as normal two days a week and learn from home the rest of the time – a scheme that could be replicated across the country.

Education expert Professor Lindsay Paterson of the University of Edinburgh said: ‘While it is understandable that schools will have to economise, that is not a reason to restrict the range of subjects pupils take.

‘The same teachers will be employed as previously. The same curricular materials are available as previously, almost all of which would be available electronically. Why restrict pupils’ access to that range?’

On the broader plans for blended learning, Professor Paterson said: ‘There is a real fear that what we are about to see is part-time schooling, because of the experience of the ten weeks of lockdown.’

He added that ‘evidence suggests most children are not being monitored by teachers in anything like a full-time way’.

The Glasgow plans emerged in minutes of a meeting between Mrs McKenna and the Glasgow City Parents Group. These show that she warned: ‘S1-S3 [pupils] may experience a temporary reduction in the number of subjects studied.’ Asked about home learning, she said: ‘It will be difficult to free up staff to do this as they will be teaching the other half of the class.

‘There may be opportunities to use staff who cannot come into the school environment to support learning from home.’

Schools are expected to return on August 11 but teaching unions have warned they may not be ready in time.

Scottish Conservative education spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘Everyone accepts Covid-19 means there may be an impact on subject choice in schools, among other things.

‘But let’s not forget that subject choice was already very poor – and getting worse.

‘Neither the SNP Government nor the SNP-led council in Glasgow should be allowed to hide behind coronavirus as an excuse for years of education policy failure.’