Latest news with #CurriculumforExcellence
The Herald Scotland
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland's educational establishment is betraying children and economy
Scotland has, in theory, a strong economic future, but it is a future that demands a workforce with a considerably high level of education and skilling. Our growth industries - renewables, primarily, but also life sciences, tourism, food and drink and a range of rural-based activities including farming, fisheries and forestry - need good people, from welders to lawyers to engineers to scientists. Read more by Andy Maciver Our current educational performance is jeopardising our future economic prospects, yet it is far from clear that they will have them and, bluntly, the educational establishment seems disinterested in doing anything about it. For those who want to cut through SNP and Labour politicians shouting at each other, there is more obviously factual evidence available. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the only international school performance study to which Scotland has submitted itself in recent years, offers us data for our children's performance in maths, science and reading which should simultaneously chill us and focus our collective minds. In all three disciplines - maths, reading and science - Scottish children's scores are continually declining. We are now hovering around average. If our trend continues into the next set of PISA data at the end of next year (and there seems little reason to believe that it will not), we will officially see Scottish education, once held up as the envy of the world, delivering a standard below the OECD average. That decline, almost precisely, corresponds with the onset of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), and it is in this area where the most obvious, rapid and impactful change could be made. CfE was a perfectly reasonable, evidenced concept, but it has suffered from a misinterpreted and bureaucratised implementation which has had a direct impact in children's learning. However there is a way out, and individual pockets of success provide us with a route. Perhaps the most obvious example comes from Berwickshire High School under the leadership of its Headteacher Bruce Robertson. Amidst a raft of other changes to the school's ethos and to the level of expectation placed on children, Mr Robertson injected content based on knowledge into a curriculum which has been largely stripped of it. The outcome was astonishing. In only six years, the proportion of kids achieving at least five Level 5 qualifications in S4 went from around two-fifths to almost two-thirds. The proportion attaining at least five Level 6 qualifications in S5 doubled to over 40 per cent. Scottish children's scores in maths, reading and science are declining in the PISA rankings (Image: free) Berwickshire High's boldness in taking on the blob has reshaped the future of its pupils. Nothing other than old-fashioned Scottish grit prevents this being tried at every school in the country. A knowledge-based, skills-oriented curriculum would take a chunk out of our educational deficit, but it is not the only game in town. The Covid school shutdown continues to have a corrosive impact. Unlike in many European peers, Scotland doubled-down on school closures against the wind of scientific evidence, buckling to the education trade unions and destroying, in effect, a year of education. To make matters worse, we declined to engage in any meaningful catch-up programme, and pupils continue to suffer. We now need to do the right thing by the children we have wronged. We could start by reinstating structure and hierarchy between pupils, parents and teachers. In a post-Covid osmosis which we will inevitably regret, we have allowed an almost complete erosion of this basic tenet of a child's life. We have placed children at the centre of educational decision-making, giving them far too much control over what they learn and how they learn it. This is not the job of a pupil; it is the job of a teacher. Similarly, we have allowed teachers to be placed in a situation where they are responsible for the social growth of a child as much as their academic growth. This is not the job of a teacher; it is the job of a parent. As we learned through data collected from Scottish teachers earlier this year, there has been an exponential increase in absence, abuse and violence directed by children at teachers. No wonder. This is a near-inevitable consequence of any kind of hierarchical structure, and giving children far too much agency over decisions which should be taken for them. Read more The brain's prefrontal cortex - the part which determines judgement and decision-making - is not fully developed until the early 20s. Delegating agency over life-altering decisions to children half this age is absurd. In short, we expect far too much of children's developing brains in a social context, and far too little of their developing brains in an academic context. So, let us go back to a more traditional hierarchy of the sort that was in place when Scottish education indeed was looked upon with envy rather than pity. We can return more respectful behaviour and academic excellence to schools through a series of decisions which adults make on behalf of children. Adults can decide, for instance, that children will not be permitted to access their mobile phones during the school day. Adults can decide what a child will learn, and how they will learn it. Adults can decide that children will wear a school uniform. The list goes on. This is now Scotland's number one long term problem. It is a flashing red light in our economic and political risk register. Every day we fail to tackle it is another day where we risk our country's future prospects. Andy Maciver is Founding Director of Message Matters, and co-host of the Holyrood Sources podcast
Scotsman
15-05-2025
- Science
- Scotsman
STEM Comes to Life for Early Years Scottish Students with Schools Festival
Aberdeen-based charity, TechFest, is hosting its Schools Science Festival from May 26-30th to enhance STEM knowledge among Northeast youth and inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists, and technologists. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Held at Robert Gordon University campus, the festival offers hands-on STEM activities for Nursery to Primary 7 pupils, from meeting exotic animals to exploring genetics and renewable energy, starting at just £2. The programme, led by TechFest and esteemed partners like Glasgow Science Centre, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and Dynamic Earth, will showcase an engaging array of STEM workshops. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This initiative aligns with TechFest's mission to enhance accessibility by fostering collaboration between industry and education while making STEM fun for all. Schools Festival 2024 Jenny Taylor, Festival Manager at TechFest, said: "We believe every child deserves the chance to follow their dreams and have the confidence and passion to do so. 'Our Schools Science Festival makes that possible by connecting schools with our incredible sponsors and partners, inspiring the next generation to grow and thrive. 'We encourage every school to take full advantage of this opportunity. I believe that together, we can empower students, spark their curiosity, and build brighter futures for all!" Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad TechFest's schools program supports participating institutions in integrating the 'Developing Young Workforce' agenda into their curriculum, offering students valuable insights into diverse career pathways. The workshop hosts and lecturers, including environmental experts, university professors, and industry professionals, will provide valuable insights into the industry, foster relationships, and inspire young learners. TechFest is dedicated to developing initiatives rooted in STEM, making the subjects fun and engaging while establishing meaningful connections with industry and education, to help young people pursue a future in STEM. TechFest's Schools Science Festival is jointly sponsored by Shell and bp and is tailored to support classroom learning through the Curriculum for Excellence. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Doris Reiter, Senior Vice President, bp North Sea, said: 'The schools festival is a key feature of TechFest's annual programme. We're pleased to be supporting it again and helping young people to explore the boundless possibilities of STEM.' Simon Roddy, SVP of Shell UK Upstream, said: "We are delighted to continue our sponsorship of TechFest. We hope that the variety of activities and experiences on offer will encourage people to engage with STEM and learn about the skills needed to help shape and develop our energy system.' Following the Schools Science Festival, TechFest will be hosting Family Activity Weekend, which is one of the most popular events in the TechFest calendar! Taking place Sat, 31st May - 1st June, this incredible weekend gives the opportunity for thousands of visitors to explore the world of STEM in an inspiring, fun and relaxed fashion. The weekend is made up of two days of workshops, shows and activities for families to get involved with.
The Courier
10-05-2025
- General
- The Courier
Calf born during '10 out of 10' farm visit by pupils from Fife high school
The Whiteford family of Hilltarvit Mains, Fife, opened their farm to 270 Bell Baxter High School pupils to give them an insight into beef production. The educational farm tour, held over two days, was arranged by Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) Fife Countryside Initiative. It focused on cattle-raising from birth to market. Lucy Whiteford, of Hilltarvit Mains, near Cupar, said: 'The high welfare standards, traceability, care, time and hard work that goes into producing the best beef is not always fully comprehended. 'It is so important for children to understand where their beef comes from, so they can make an informed decision about whether they choose to eat it – or not.' Bell Baxter High depute head Brian Harris agreed, adding: 'The pupils had a great experience. 'They were within touching distance of the cattle and one group was lucky enough to see a calf being born, then take it's first steps.' Thanking hosts John and Lucy Whiteford, Mr Harris said: 'How well they care for their animals was clear throughout the two-day visit. We hope their passion for animal welfare, while producing a sustainable, quality product, will inspire some of our young people to consider a career in farming.' But what did the pupils think? We asked two of them, Liam Barr and Brogan Smith. Liam said: 'My family have a farm, so I knew what I was going to see. It was good seeing how other people look after their cattle.' Brogan Smith gave the visit 'eight out of 10 but only because the bus journey'. He added: 'The farm part was 10 out of 10. I learned a lot about how well the farmer takes care of the cattle throughout their lives. They told us about what the cattle get to eat and how they plan for the whole year. 'When I get meat from the shops, It'll make me think about where it comes from.' RHET project co-ordinator Carole Brunton said: It's crucial young people receive factual information about the food they consume, and understand the importance of eating locally sourced products.' Launched in 1999, RHET works with volunteers to provide free educational and experiential learning opportunities linked to the Curriculum for Excellence.
