DWINDLING COURSE OFFERINGS AND DIVERTED CAREER PATHS

- Net loss of 22 Higher and Advanced Higher subjects in one year -

Statistics released through a Freedom of Information request show the dramatic reductions in both Higher and Advanced Higher courses offered in Renfrewshire schools. This compounds the alarming loss of 122 teachers in Renfrewshire from 2007 to 2008 and growing concern over the use of probationary teachers.

Whilst pupils have been sitting their Higher and Advanced Higher examinations, many younger pupils have been choosing their subjects for next year.

Campaigning local politician Wendy Alexander MSP said:

“This Freedom of Information request reveals what has been happening in Renfrewshire – no wonder parents are up in arms about the impact on their children. This year in Renfrewshire secondaries a staggering 28 fewer Advanced Higher courses were not on offer compared to last year. This is one of the worst records in Scotland. And the situation is set to worsen next year as the SNP Council have voted through a real terms cut in the total education budget.

“In the last couple of weeks as pupils have been making their course choices many concerned parents have got in touch about the more restricted offerings for senior pupils next year. Three brave families affected speak out below about what it means for them.

“Parents are alarmed at the scale of the cutbacks – 28 Advanced Higher courses were dropped this year when just 6 were added. There were no Advanced Highers on offer at Linwood High School, and just 2 on offer at Gleniffer this year. Parents report there will be no Advanced Highers again at Linwood next year. Despite the consortium arrangements the actual course choices on offer have dwindled.

“It is unacceptable that schools are forced to restrict the curriculum because of tight budgets, in turn restricting the career paths of pupils.

I urge the Council to act immediately so that pupils are given the opportunities they deserve to study the subjects they want to.”

A pupil at Linwood High School has recently been choosing subjects:

“At the moment the school has no plans to introduce the Advanced Higher Maths Course this session even though there are enough pupils to run it. Two pupils, who are both friends of mine, have been forced to move to the more …heavily cash funded… school of Gryffe to study. We were told by our school that Gryffe had no places for Advanced Higher Maths but for some reason these two pupils are able to get into the class… I would willingly move to Gryffe, but I am a full time young carer and this is just not viable for me. The school is not running Higher Geography this year so, given the likely chance of me needing to re-sit it, I presume I will have a years work wasted because it will not be on offer here next year.”

Concerned parent Simone Smith whose daughter wants to go on to study Medicine contacted Wendy. Her daughter needs to take Advanced Higher Chemistry and Biology but this is not currently being offered at Paisley Grammar:

“I am very concerned about the lack of availability of Advanced Highers for sixth year pupils at Paisley Grammar School. This may prejudice pupils’ applications for certain university courses.

“The school is waiting for information from the local education authority about the number and specialties of any probation teachers that will be allocated to the school.  Only then can it decide what subjects can be offered.  The other schools are in the same position and so they cannot make arrangements to host pupils from other schools. I am worried that sufficient consortium arrangements may not be able to be made.”

Angela Rae’s daughter attends Linwood High School and wants to study Pharmacy at University. She was shocked to discover that her daughter was not given a timetable because there were no classes arranged at either her school or another in the area to undertake her studies. She was forced to take matters into her own hands:

“I went to see my daughter’s year head today and was shown emails that have been sent to other schools to no avail.

“My daughter had advised her year head that she wished to take Advanced Higher Maths, Biology and Chemistry around late February, early March this year. Due to cut backs there are no classes for her to go to with her fellow pupils who also wish to take Advanced Highers this year. No Advanced Higher classes have yet been offered at Linwood High next year.

“I then contacted Gryffe High, who, after speaking to them, can offer my daughter a placement there to do all three of her Advanced Highers. That was one phone call to arrange this, so my question is, ‘Why can’t Linwood have offered this and why have I had to sort this out?’”