Burning Issue: Is lack of funding the main problem with the new baccalaureates?

Published on Wednesday 26 November 2008 20:41

Yes JIM DOCHERTY, deputy general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA)

THE success of the baccalaureate is dependent on the availability of considerable numbers of Advanced Higher courses.

At the moment, many of our comprehensive schools are six-year schools in name only. The Advanced Higher courses which complete the education of so many of our young people do not exist; they are not taught because of a lack of staff.

From the outset, the SSTA has pointed out the financial implications of Curriculum for Excellence and the costs of the baccalaureate were high on the list of concerns.

The requirement for the completion of an interdisciplinary project will result in increased burdens on staffing.

The SSTA is not convinced the resources exist to permit the baccalaureate to operate. Worse still, it might be restricted to the largest schools with significant numbers of S6 pupils, where the economies of scale will assist.

Regrettably, the baccalaureate in the small rural school or the inner-city comprehensive in an area of social deprivation may be no more than a dream.

It does remain to be seen, however, the value placed on the baccalaureate by universities and colleges. The concept is good. It will stretch our most able pupils and give a preparation for tertiary education, which currently does not exist.

It can raise the status of the S6 experience and encourage our young people to ask questions. That is how we move on. But will the Scottish baccalaureate be strangled at birth by a lack of finance?

No

LIZ SMITH,

Conservative Party schools spokeswoman

WHILE I am delighted to hear that the Scottish Government has recognised the need to put much greater focus on stretching our brightest pupils, I remain deeply concerned about the merits of the present proposals for a Scottish baccalaureate.

In particular, I am concerned about the SNP's muddled thinking. They rightly identified a need to reform the structure of SQA examinations and, in doing so, invited responses to a wide-ranging consultation document.

I understand the results of that consultation will not be published until 2 December, yet here they are announcing a new award where the main component parts are part of the current system. How will this award, based on the existing exams, sit with the other changes that will take effect in 2014?

Likewise, I think there will be many pupils and teachers across Scotland wanting to know exactly what the Scottish baccalaureate means for university entrance. This is a fundamental question, which has serious implications for the career choices of young people, but which the Scottish Government has not answered.

Finally, there is question of a distinction award. Does the Scottish Government believe that the term "distinction" would be appropriate to use when a pupil achieves two Bs and one A at Higher, plus one A at Advanced Higher? There will be many pupils across Scotland who will exceed these results. In my view, these pupils will be the ones whose exam achievements will be more deserving of the title "distinction".

The Scottish Government claims it wants to foster academic excellence. Hopefully, it will now rethink its ideas on the baccalaureate.