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The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Could Scotland learn from Ireland's exam-free fourth year?
In Scotland, the main qualifications in upper secondary – National 5, Higher and, to a lesser degree, Advanced Higher – are one-year courses; in contrast, Ireland certifies school leavers via a two-year programme known as the Leaving Certificate. As with the Scottish system, Ireland's culminates in a set of high-stakes exams that serve a key role in university applications. But a single, two-year course for school leavers opens an obvious gap in the fourth year of secondary school, when Scottish students typically take six or seven one-year National 5 courses. The experience for the vast majority of their Irish peers is radically different. Ireland encourages young people at this age to participate in something called a Transition Year (TY), which is part of the latter stage of secondary, but is not assessed using formal exams or structured around an exam-focused timetable. The Transition Year concept was introduced in 1974 in response to what the then Minister for Education called the 'growing pressures on students for high grades and competitive success'. This phenomenon, he warned, meant that education systems were 'becoming increasingly academic treadmills' and schools, 'because of these pressures', were also 'losing contact with life outside.' In the early years results were good, but uptake was low. In the mid-80s, the provision of greater support and the effects of wider structural changes led to an increase in the number of schools offering the programme; further guidance and major senior cycle reform then sparked a huge jump in provision, with the number of participating schools jumping from 19 percent in 1993 to 60 percent the following year. At this point, just under a third of all students took up the offer of a Transition Year. Over the next two decades, both figures continuously increased: by 2021 coverage had reached 98 percent of schools, with 74 percent of pupils taking up the option of a Transition Year. According to Dr Majella Dempsey, Associate Professor of Education at Maynooth University, the programme is almost entirely unique. The only other country to offer something similar is Korea – which like Ireland, is a high-performing country in PISA international tests, and which has actually been inspired to introduce its own programme by the success of the Irish approach. Although there is 'no designated curriculum', schools do operate under a 'framework for how they can organise the year.' This decentralised approach leaves schools free to develop their own programmes, incorporating various different subjects, broader areas of study, specialist educational modules, one-off events, out-of-school learning activities, and more. 'They can't just use the class time to do a three-year Leaving Cert,' Dr Dempsey notes. 'Students tend to do a lot of project-based learning, and even travelling to other European countries all sorts of different things.' Subjects studied all year as part of the 'core' layer include Gaeilge, English, Maths, PE, ICT and RE. A 'subject sampling' layer allows students to complete modules from a range of other traditional subjects, and a 'Transition Year specific layer' provides opportunities to study areas such as photography, mental health, tourism, innovation, psychology and more. The final 'calendar' layer means that programmes such as work experience, outdoor pursuits, field trips, and dramatic or musical productions can all be included in the Transition Year model. A major part of the focus for schools is on supporting the development of independent learning skills while encouraging students to explore both existing and emerging areas of interest. Irish actor Cillian Murphy has spoken about the positive effect that the Transition Year had on him, once describing the period as a 'real oasis' and himself as a 'big advocate' of the system. According to a 2022 report as part of updates to the TY programme, 'students and teachers describe the classroom as liberated due to the learning-led focus of TY and the absence of exam-pressure.' Evidence also suggests that the benefits of the Transition Year are carried over in some way into Leaving Certificate studies. Students participating in the programme have been found to be more engaged in their studies overall, and a report for the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment states that there is 'reliable evidence that students who do TY achieve a substantially higher performance in the Leaving Certificate' – although it adds that the precise reasons for this correlation remain unclear. It's also clear that the system isn't perfect. Around a quarter of young people report being disappointed or underwhelmed by their Transition Year, with an apparently common complaint being the feeling that some teachers don't take the classes as seriously as others. According to Dr Dempsey the quality of a student's Transition Year is also affected by socioeconomic factors, because some of the activities that a school might want to consider – like foreign travel – cannot be entirely funded by schools. But even at its weakest, she adds, the research would say that the Transition Year, and being free from exams throughout that period, 'is very good for young people.'
The Herald Scotland
22-05-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
SQA accused of 'slap in the face' to teachers
One teacher described the exam board's actions as 'a real slap in the face to those wanting to do the best for the young people in their class.' The country's biggest teaching union said that the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) should have carried out 'proper consultation' with schools and urged them to 'think again' about the changes. The course updates were announced in the SQA's regular newsletter on 15 May and include the removal of an entire question paper from Higher Drama, the introduction of a prescribed text list for another, and alterations to exam questions and marking schemes at National 5 and Advanced Higher levels. According to one senior teacher who approached The Herald, this was the 'first notification' to schools that significant changes would be introduced and made mandatory for the 2025/26 academic year. Under a sub-heading of 'What you'll need to do differently', teachers were informed that they will have to select one of 15 prescribed texts for paper one of the exam. In addition, they were told: 'You'll also need to update your teaching notes and assessment materials to reflect the new marking instructions for both sections of the question paper.' The post confirmed that the updated course specifications and exemplar exam papers would be made available four days later on Monday 19 May. This material was published as planned on the SQA website. Most secondary schools in Scotland begin their new timetables in June once students have returned from exam leave, meaning that teachers have just a few weeks to reconstruct their courses to fit the new requirements. In cases where schools have not previously taught any of the new approved texts, class sets will have to be purchased and entirely new teaching materials developed. The EIS has told its members not to carry out unplanned additional work in order to accommodate 'last minute changes from the SQA". READ MORE: A spokesperson for the SQA insisted that the changes have been 'shaped by the thoughtful feedback shared by teachers, and the timing reflects what was important to them.' They also said that 'a range of resources' will be made available 'in the new session' in order to 'help bring clarity and confidence to the classroom". However, a senior teacher disputed these claims, telling The Herald that the SQA had carried out very limited engagement work and had not presented the proposed set text list to teacher to gather their opinions on the plays to be included. They added that the decision to impose the changes immediately creates an 'obvious workload issue' and financial challenges that the SQA should address. In addition to the logistical concerns being raised by teachers, the new set text list has also been described as disappointing and uninspired, with some arguing that it will make it more difficult for teachers to engage young people in the subject. The only women with work included as a set text are Shelagh Delaney (A Taste of Honey), Liz Lochhead (Dracula), Ena Lamont Stewart (Men Should Weep), Zinnie Harris (The Duchess (of Malfi)). An SQA spokesperson told The Herald that the selections on the new list are 'based on the most popular responses' in previous exams, and that the list will be 'reviewed regularly top ensure it remains relevant". The new list of set texts for Higher Drama (Image: James McEnaney) Speaking to The Herald on condition of anonymity, one current drama teacher said that the SQA has 'failed to recognise the huge implications of introducing a set text list and new marking scheme just a few weeks before the change of timetable." They continued: 'In a time where unions are voicing concerns for teachers health and wellbeing as well as workload it's a real slap in the face to those wanting to do the best for the young people in their class. 'I'm hugely concerned at the lack of diversity on the new list - it does not represent a contemporary Scotland. There are no BAME texts, very few females on the list. It's made up with a majority of white men.' Commenting on changes to marking approaches, the teacher added that these have 'now been dumbed down' and expressed a fear that drama will 'now be looked down on by universities' when setting entry requirements. Anne Keenan, Assistant General Secretary of the EIS, said: 'Clearly, where it is necessary to make changes to a course in any subject following what should be consultation with teachers through their representative bodies, it is essential that schools and teachers are provided with adequate information and time to prepare. The workload demands of changes to a course are substantial, and can add significantly to existing teacher workload if not managed correctly. In addition, changes to courses can bring with them resource requirements which place an even greater strain on already tight school budgets. 'In planning any changes to courses, the SQA must be fully cognisant to the impact on schools, teachers and students. It is also important that due consideration be given to the appropriateness of the required materials, including the equality impact of the selected texts. 'Proper consultation with teacher trade unions would have led to much stronger equality considerations at an early stage. The EIS continues to advise members that there can be no expectation that last-minute changes from the SQA will be accommodated over and above existing agreements in respect of teachers' working time. 'The SQA should think again.' The Herald approached the SQA to ask why course changes were being pushed through for the coming school year and whether the exam board would consider a delay in response to concerns raised. Their spokesperson said: 'Following feedback from stakeholders, and evidence gathered from past years' assessments whereby learners were not taking advantage of the full range of marks available to them in the Higher Drama exam, SQA took the decision to review the Higher Drama question paper and the accompanying marking instructions. 'This was done to consolidate the question paper and give learners the best opportunity to maximise their marks from the paper. Feedback received indicated that there was a desire among teachers to adopt the changes for the 2025-26 session. 'These changes were shaped by the thoughtful feedback shared by teachers, and the timing reflects what was important to them. 'To support teachers through this transition, a range of resources will be available in the new session. These will include an event, a webinar, and understanding standards material – such as exemplar answers and commentaries – to help bring clarity and confidence to the classroom. 'We're grateful to teachers for their input, which played a key role in shaping these developments.'
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
10 National 5 questions to test if you can still take on school exam today
Whether you've sat the National 5 exams - or Standard Grades and O-Grades if you're a bit older - this quiz is bound to put your brain in gear. If you're a student, you'll already be well aware that exam season is underway. And if you're a past pupil, you've likely not shaken off that trauma of those stressful exams. Most of us have had that horrible nightmare at one point or another. You're sitting in a classroom, about to take a test that you know you haven't studied for, only to wake up and thankfully realise it's not real. While this realisation is always welcome, the question remains as to whether you could still ace these school exams if taken today. If this has ever crossed your mind, then we have the quiz for you. This Daily Record quiz features questions that you'll likely find on National 5 or GCSE exam papers and while they are usually aimed at 14 to 16 year-olds - they may leave you scratching your head. Those who could do without the reminder of school can act as the quizmaster can put pals' knowledge to the test while enjoying a pint at the pub. Or if you're having a quiet weekend, you can get the family together for a fun quiz night - you may even help any future exam sitters prepare for upcoming tests. From geography to biology, maths and physical education, all questions below have been asked through the years and if you think you've got the brains to solve them - it's time to give them a go. Good luck and let us know how you get on in the comments below. If you can't see the quiz below, click on this link to take part. How did you get on? If you didn't get them all, don't worry, as even just taking part can give your brain a workout. Regularly undertaking challenging brainteasers is not only a good way to pass the time, but science suggests that practicing puzzles can help keep your mind healthy and boost brain function. It's not just quizzes that boost the brain, as optical illusions are also a great way to do this. A recent optical illusion tasked people to spot the error in a simple cartoon of a living room. The puzzling portrait pictures a man unwinding on his sofa accompanied by his two cats, but something both obvious and subtle is missing from the scene. Looking for more? Why not try this brain training exercise that only one in five people can get right. Rather than have simple solutions, other optical illusions can help us learn more about ourselves. What you see in this painting can actually point out the personality trait that others find most off-putting about you. Hopefully this will be plenty to keep your brain busy and entertained. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
The Courier
21-05-2025
- The Courier
Dundee and Angus school travel chaos in wake of Fishers Tours collapse
Parents and teachers at schools across Dundee and Angus have been left to pick up the pieces in the wake of the collapse of coach company Fishers Tours. Angus Council said it was 'confident' it could find transport for Monifieth High School pupils due to sit an exam on Monday. But as of Tuesday evening arrangements had not been 'secured'. Monday is an in-service day, but there are scheduled SQA practical exams in National 5 and Higher Art and Design at 9am. Health and Food Tech exams in National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher are also scheduled for Monday afternoon. Meanwhile one Dundee school head teacher tried 18 different coach companies to find a replacement coach for a school trip, without success. Fishers Tours staff were told on Monday the firm was to shut by the end of this week. Buses will run 'as normal' until Friday, but after that there are no guarantees pupils will be able to get to school without significant disruption. Parents are due to be given an update via the Angus Council Group Call system by Wednesday. Pupils at Sidlaw View Primary in Dundee were due to attend a class trip, which is at risk of being cancelled after Fishers' collapse. A letter sent to parents read by The Courier shows the intense efforts made by teachers in securing alternative transport. And parents of pupils at Eastern Primary School in Broughty Ferry have been asked to help with transport for an upcoming sports day. One Sidlaw View parent told The Courier: 'It couldn't have come at a worse time with all the school trips organised before the summer. 'You have to question why the company took all these bookings knowing it probably wouldn't be able to fulfil them, and why it didn't give the schools a bit more warning. 'I feel for the kids who are missing out but also the staff who are left to pick up the pieces. 'They should be able to spend their time on more important things than phoning round bus companies.' The Courier asked the local authorities what contingencies were in place to mitigate pupil disruption. Angus Council said home school services were still to be 'secured'. And transport is still to be finalised for P7 pupils due to attend transition days, but priority was being given to the to-and-from school journeys. A spokesperson said: 'We continue to work hard with alternative providers to secure cover for the Fisher Tours contracts. 'Progress is being made. We would like to reassure families that we are doing everything we can to ensure that the services to schools are in place, particularly mindful that exams continue to the end of next week. 'We are also confident that we'll have transport in place for those pupils attending Monifieth High School on Monday May 26 for an exam practical. 'Details will be communicated directly to those affected later this week. 'We're aware of other journeys which have also been affected by the withdrawal of Fisher Tours buses, which include swimming lessons and P7-S1 transition days, amongst others. 'These will be addressed once the home to school services are secured. 'We will continue to keep families informed directly via Group Call and we'll also carry details, once confirmed, on our dedicated webpage.' Fishers Tours did not respond to The Courier's request for comment. Dundee City Council did not respond when approached for comment.
Press and Journal
18-05-2025
- Science
- Press and Journal
Meet the Aberdeen pupil who is siting S4 exams in primary school
An 11-year-old Aberdeen schoolboy who is in primary seven sat his National 4 exams – usually taken in fourth year – at the age of 10. Emon Rizvi, who attends the city's Albyn School, showed potential from a young age. So much so, that he never started primary one and went straight into primary two. 'P1 was too easy for him, so we just wanted him to go into P2,' his dad Imran – a 45-year-old businessman – told The Press and Journal. The youngster was so adamant that he was not starting primary school in the usual age group and said at the time: 'I'm not wasting my time in P1 because it is so easy for me.' His time at Albyn has been successful and according to his teachers, he has shown 'exceptional aptitude' for learning since he started. The 11-year-old has now made history and has officially been accepted into Mensa International, the world-renowned high IQ society. The youngest an individual can do a supervised IQ test for the organisation is at the age of 10 and a half, with people who score at the 98th percentile or higher getting accepted. Emon completed – and passed – one of Mensa's mock test at the age of nine. 'He was so excited when he turned 10 years and six months,' Imran told The P&J. When he was of the age allowed, 10-year-old Emon – who enjoys playing video games, Lego and tennis – took his test to see if he would be eligible to qualify for Mensa. Taking the Stanford-Binet test – in which to qualify you need to be in the top 2% (scoring 132 or more) – the schoolboy surpassed this and scored 149. Speaking to the P&J, Emon said: 'I'm very proud of myself and both my parents and my brother are very proud. 'I feel almost astonished that I managed, because I thought It'd be really, really hard. I am also relieved that I managed.' In achieving this, he has become the first ever pupil from Albyn's lower school to join the elite club. Head of Albyn's lower school, Mr Davies said: 'He has this intense focus and incredible memory. 'Emon's talents are far beyond his years.' Having sat his National 4 exams last year, there are plans for him to do 'two or three' Highers in second year if he does well at 'mock' National 5 exams that he is taking this year. And what are Emon's plans for the future? 'It's difficult because he has no pressure, his dad said, adding: 'He will decide what he wants to do. 'However, it will probably be in artificial intelligence or something.'
