Letter: Educational boost

Your coverage of education and league tables (26 August) gave a mixed review of the Scottish baccalaureate. It appears that it may take some time before the value of this new qualification is properly appreciated.

This is certainly not the case at Dollar Academy. As your table demonstrated, Dollar supplied the largest number of candidates for the qualification in the independent sector last year.

The experience of the vast majority of our candidates and staff is that it has added real value.

Any new qualification runs the risk of claims of dumbing down. That has never been a concern about the new qualification and the validity level has proven to be extremely high.

In an era when many commentators have criticised bite-sized modular courses, admissions tutors at universities are likely to be quick to appreciate the scope for independent learning, and sustained individual research, that the inter-disciplinary project provides. This provides extension opportunities far beyond Advanced Higher.

The engagement with, and the quality of, the finished projects we witnessed here was highly impressive. The twin focus of the Scottish baccalaureate on science and language is what Scotland has been crying out for - for some time. Indeed, it is why it was launched in the first place. Dollar Academy has no plans to end its involvement in the Scottish baccalaureate, and we applaud education minister Mike Russell's decision to stick by the qualification.

DAVID KNAPMAN

Dollar Academy

Dollar, Clackmannanshire