New baccalaureate exam unveiled to boost language and science studies

Published on Wednesday 26 November 2008 20:41

PUPILS will be able to study new qualifications in science and languages from next year, the government has announced.

Fiona Hyslop, the education minister, also revealed that baccalaureates in social subjects and art might be created in future.

Science and language courses were created first, to address concerns from business leaders and universities that too few teenagers chose those subjects.

Ms Hyslop said: "The baccalaureate awards aim to encourage more of our young people to study more science and language courses in the later stages of secondary school, raise the status of S6 and assist our young people in making the transition from school to higher and further education and employment."

From August 2009, pupils in S6 can study for baccalaureates – a mixture of Highers, Advanced Highers plus project. The first will be awarded in 2010 and universities are expected to list them as entry qualifications in prospectuses from 2009.

Professor John Coggins, the vice-principal of life science and medicine at Glasgow University, said the project would help to better prepare pupils for university education and careers.

Claire Bleasdale, chairwoman of the Scottish Association of Language Teachers, said the baccalaureate would raise the profile of languages in schools.

However, Scotland's biggest teaching union, the EIS, warned it could clutter the curriculum. Liz Smith, the Scottish Conservatives' schools spokeswoman, said many pupils and teachers were confused about how baccalaureates would affect entry to university. She said: "Would, for example, a pupil applying to do French at university holding a Scottish Languages baccalaureate, consisting of one B at Higher and two As at Advanced Higher, all in languages, be seen as a better prospect than a pupil holding one B at Higher and two As at Advanced Higher in subjects which went beyond the languages curriculum?"

Geography teachers previously expressed disappointment that their subject was not included in the list for the science baccalaureate. They said its focus on environmental issues was particularly relevant to science.

SCIENCE

PUPILS will choose two from: biology, biotechnology, chemistry, computing, human biology, information systems, managing environmental resources, mechatronics, physics, technological studies, building construction, fabrication and welding engineering, geology, graphic communication or product design.

Plus: maths and an inter-disciplinary project.

Two subjects should be at Advanced Higher and one at Higher.

For example, a pupil could choose Advanced Higher physics and maths, Higher chemistry and the project.

LANGUAGES

PUPILS choose two languages from: French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Classical Greek, Latin, Learners' Gaelic, Urdu, Mandarin and Cantonese.

Plus: English, English for speakers of other languages or Gaelic and an inter-disciplinary project.

Any two of the languages chosen should be at Advanced Higher, with one at Higher. The project will be at Advanced Higher level and graded A, B or C.

For example, a candidate might choose Advanced Higher English and French, Higher Spanish and the project.