Latest news with #National5s
Daily Record
15-05-2025
- Daily Record
Mum slams 'disgusting' Scots teacher jailed for upskirting her daughter in class
Sleazy Maths teacher Lee Dixon was sent to prison for 19 months this week after being caught taking pictures of youngsters at a Lanarkshire high school. A horrified mum has slammed a ' disgusting' teacher who was jailed for upskirting her daughter in class. Sleazy Maths teacher Lee Dixon was sent to prison for 19 months this week after being caught taking pictures of youngsters. The 30-year-old, from Bellshill, was arrested after another pupil spotted his mobile phone camera pointing at the underwear of a girl from beneath his desk at a Lanarkshire high school. Airdrie Sheriff Court heard that Dixon earlier filmed a 12-year-old girl before secretly taking videos of the underwear of the 15-year-old girl on two occasions. The mum of the older victim - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - told the Record the incident had a serious impact on her daughter's wellbeing and her prospects at school, leaving her struggling with exams as she anxiously waited for the case to reach court. She said: 'I'm disgusted that a person in such a position of power and trust with young people could do this. 'The fact he was so blase in doing this makes me concerned as to how often this was happening. I don't think other parents were fully aware of what went on. We don't know how many children were a target for this man. Other children could have been photographed. 'I'm happy he has been given a custodial sentence but it should have been much longer and he should be on the sex offenders' register for life. 'This man should never be allowed to work around young people again.' Police were called to the school in March 2023 when a classmate of the girl spotted what Dixon was doing and incriminating footage was found on his phone. The teacher's career is now over after he pleaded guilty to voyeurism charges and was sentenced on Tuesday. The victim's mum recalled how she received a call telling her what had happened and rushed to the school. She said: 'It seems the classroom had been in a bit of chaos afterwards. 'My daughter had left and went to go and look for her support teacher and told them what happened and they pulled the other girls in. 'She passed Dixon in the corridor on the way back. 'I was able to get there quite quickly to be with her. 'My daughter was doing so well at school before this. She had a high attendance and was articulate but it has been a nightmare the last couple of years. 'It's been horrendous because it happened just before the National 5s and has impacted on her exams. 'I feel as thought she's not been able to reach her full potential at high school with all of this going on. 'She's had the police coming in and fiscal phoning and has been facing the potential of having to go to court for a trial. 'Thankfully that didn't need to happen. 'The school has been good and she did get some therapy but not everyone has been so supportive. 'She hasn't felt as comfortable at school since and is not as trusting of the teaching staff. It's had a big impact on her mental health and wellbeing. 'It bothers her that she still doesn't know what pictures were taken and where they are now.' It's understood Dixon had only taught at the school for a matter of months when the offences came to light. Defence lawyer John Kilcoyne said Dixon was 'disgusted' by his 'despicable' behaviour. The solicitor told the court: 'He appreciates this was a gross breach of trust and knows his career is over. 'He has recently gained an HGV licence and hopes to get work as a driver.' Mr Kilcoyne said Dixon's wife has left him following his conviction but his family in general remain 'very supportive'. Several of his relatives were in court for the hearing. The lawyer said Dixon acknowledged the effect his behaviour had on the pupils and was assessed by a social worker as at low risk of reoffending. He added: 'My client is apprehensive of a custodial sentence and asks that he be given the opportunity to engage with social workers.' But Sheriff Derek Livingston said he had no choice but to send him to prison. He told Dixon: 'The horror those girls must have felt when this was discovered can only be imagined. 'Parents gave you responsibility to look after their children and educate them. 'Instead, you abused your position of trust and engaged in this voyeuristic behaviour. 'Until this happened you appear to have been a model citizen, but that breach of trust was such that I consider there to be absolutely no alternative to a custodial sentence.' Dixon was placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years. Scottish Ministers will be advised that he is deemed unsuitable to work with children and other vulnerable groups. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. 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Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Scotland's exams will test pupils
Scotland's school exam season is getting under way, with more than 132,000 candidates sitting National 5s, Highers and Advanced Highers over the next month. Recent years have seen turbulence in Scottish education with concerns over falling standards and a failure to tackle the attainment gap. Last year Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said the results were "not good enough". Last year's marks fell to lower levels than before the Covid pandemic and international testing has suggested a long-term decline in Scottish educational attainment. In addition to that, the gap between the results achieved by Scotland's richest and poorest school pupils is as wide as it was a decade ago when the government named it as a priority. To tackle the problem, Ms Gilruth has pledged an increase in teacher numbers, further investment to reduce the time teachers spend in class, an ongoing reform of the curriculum and a focus on tackling poor behaviour in classrooms. But plans to cut down on the number of exams pupils take have been largely rejected for now. This year's exam season will be very similar to the past few, with more than two million papers being handed out to pupils in silent school halls over the next month. The first exams on Friday are computer science and psychology and the final subject will be religious studies on 30 May. National 5s, mainly taken by S4 pupils aged 15 or 16, are offered in more than 50 subjects from accounting to Urdu. Highers, often taken by 16 to 18-year-olds in S5 and S6, can be sat in a similar range of subjects while Advanced Highers offer fewer choices. The Scottish government hopes that when pupils get their results on Tuesday 5 August they will show a marked improvement on last year. In 2024 the most popular subjects at Higher were English, maths, physical education (PE), history and chemistry. And the most popular Nat 5s were English, maths, applications of maths, biology and PE. For Highers and Nat 5s there were more entries by girls than boys last year. Teaching experts say this will be the first year of "normal" marking since the Covid pandemic. What that means in reality will not be clear until results day. During Covid-19, exams were cancelled for two years running and there was controversy when teacher estimates, previous coursework and a school's past performance were used to determine the results. The results in 2020 saw the pass rate for Highers jump from 75% to 89%, while the percentage of pupils achieving A grades hit a record high the following year. Since then the marking has been described as "generous". In a normal year, the pass rate for each grade is adjusted slightly but the average effect is small. In the years since the pandemic the adjustments have been more significant. Despite the claim of consistent marking by the SQA last year, their approach to awarding grades in 2024 involved more significant adjustments to grade boundaries than usual. Three years ago, in response to a number of concerns over Scottish education, Prof Louise Hayward was asked by the Scottish government to conduct a review of qualifications and assessment. Her review recommended an end to S4 exams for students who were due to continue with a subject beyond that year. It raised concerns about the so-called "two-term dash" with exams for some in the same subjects in S4, S5 and S6. The review warned this too often results in teaching to the test rather than offering a broad understanding of the subjects. Gilruth told MSPs she agreed with the Hayward report's recommendation that there should be less reliance on "high stakes final exams" but last year the Scottish government rejected the proposals. Instead, just a small number of practical subjects such as woodworking and cakemaking will drop exams next year and the rest will continue as they were. Behind the scenes work is under way on the Curriculum Reform Cycle – with subjects including maths and English already under review. To some this is considered a back door way of transforming the SNP's landmark Curriculum for Excellence without actually admitting it did not achieve what was intended. Others have applauded the work under way. In addition to the exams being sat over the next month, many other pupils will be completing National 1 to National 4 qualifications as well as other courses that are continually assessed throughout the year. In total, more than 147,000 candidates are expected to get their results on Tuesday 5 August. There has been controversy over the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) grading of exams in recent years, especially during the pandemic. This will be the last year that students sit exams under the SQA before it is replaced later this year by a new body called Qualifications Scotland – as long as reforms going through the Scottish Parliament are not further delayed. However, some have criticised this as a simple re-brand, as most of the staff will remain the same. For those in exam halls the focus will be on the paper in front of them and nothing should feel any different. For ministers, policy-makers and those working on reforming the curriculum, and the organisations setting exams and inspecting schools in the run up to an election next year, the challenge will be to bring about significant improvement - or face getting marked down. SQA publishes new exam timetable after backlash School exams to play a smaller role in overall grades Pupils should not sit exams before fifth year - report Scottish education performance falling, says study
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Scotland's school exams begin against backdrop of dissatisfaction
Scotland's school exam season is getting under way, with more than 132,000 candidates sitting National 5s, Highers and Advanced Highers over the next years have seen turbulence in Scottish education with concerns over falling standards and a failure to tackle the attainment year Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said the results were "not good enough". What's the problem? Last year's marks fell to lower levels than before the Covid pandemic and international testing has suggested a long-term decline in Scottish educational attainment. In addition to that, the gap between the results achieved by Scotland's richest and poorest school pupils is as wide as it was a decade ago when the government named it as a tackle the problem, Ms Gilruth has pledged an increase in teacher numbers, further investment to reduce the time teachers spend in class, an ongoing reform of the curriculum and a focus on tackling poor behaviour in plans to cut down on the number of exams pupils take have been largely rejected for now. What can pupils expect? This year's exam season will be very similar to the past few, with more than two million papers being handed out to pupils in silent school halls over the next first exams on Friday are computer science and psychology and the final subject will be religious studies on 30 5s, mainly taken by S4 pupils aged 15 or 16, are offered in more than 50 subjects from accounting to often taken by 16 to 18-year-olds in S5 and S6, can be sat in a similar range of subjects while Advanced Highers offer fewer Scottish government hopes that when pupils get their results on Tuesday 5 August they will show a marked improvement on last year. What are the most popular subjects? In 2024 the most popular subjects at Higher were English, maths, physical education (PE), history and the most popular Nat 5s were English, maths, applications of maths, biology and Highers and Nat 5s there were more entries by girls than boys last year. How will they be marked? Teaching experts say this will be the first year of "normal" marking since the Covid pandemic. What that means in reality will not be clear until results Covid-19, exams were cancelled for two years running and there was controversy when teacher estimates, previous coursework and a school's past performance were used to determine the results. The results in 2020 saw the pass rate for Highers jump from 75% to 89%, while the percentage of pupils achieving A grades hit a record high the following then the marking has been described as "generous". In a normal year, the pass rate for each grade is adjusted slightly but the average effect is small. In the years since the pandemic the adjustments have been more the claim of consistent marking by the SQA last year, their approach to awarding grades in 2024 involved more significant adjustments to grade boundaries than usual. Are exams on the way out? Three years ago, in response to a number of concerns over Scottish education, Prof Louise Hayward was asked by the Scottish government to conduct a review of qualifications and review recommended an end to S4 exams for students who were due to continue with a subject beyond that raised concerns about the so-called "two-term dash" with exams for some in the same subjects in S4, S5 and review warned this too often results in teaching to the test rather than offering a broad understanding of the subjects. Gilruth told MSPs she agreed with the Hayward report's recommendation that there should be less reliance on "high stakes final exams" but last year the Scottish government rejected the just a small number of practical subjects such as woodworking and cakemaking will drop exams next year and the rest will continue as they the scenes work is under way on the Curriculum Reform Cycle – with subjects including maths and English already under review. To some this is considered a back door way of transforming the SNP's landmark Curriculum for Excellence without actually admitting it did not achieve what was have applauded the work under addition to the exams being sat over the next month, many other pupils will be completing National 1 to National 4 qualifications as well as other courses that are continually assessed throughout the total, more than 147,000 candidates are expected to get their results on Tuesday 5 August. What's happening to the exams body? There has been controversy over the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) grading of exams in recent years, especially during the will be the last year that students sit exams under the SQA before it is replaced later this year by a new body called Qualifications Scotland – as long as reforms going through the Scottish Parliament are not further some have criticised this as a simple re-brand, as most of the staff will remain the those in exam halls the focus will be on the paper in front of them and nothing should feel any different. For ministers, policy-makers and those working on reforming the curriculum, and the organisations setting exams and inspecting schools in the run up to an election next year, the challenge will be to bring about significant improvement - or face getting marked down.
Telegraph
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
School leaving age should be cut to 14, Scottish Tory leader suggests
Children should have the choice of leaving school at 14 if they are not suited to academia, the Scottish Tory leader is to argue. Russell Findlay is to call for the school leaving age to be cut from 16 to prevent pupils being 'trapped in a system that isn't working for them'. In a speech to a think tank in Edinburgh, Mr Findlay will insist that allowing children to quit school earlier was 'not about writing off these young people'. Instead he will argue they could benefit from being 'in a form of hybrid education that is better suited to their talents', such as a fast-tracked apprenticeship or college. One in seven quit after S4 Official figures published last week showed that around one in seven school leavers quit after S4, the highest number since 2010. The proportion of pupils who left school last year with one or more passes at National 5s, or equivalent and one or more pass at Higher level or equivalent also dropped. Last year 83.5 per cent of school leavers had one pass or more at National 5 level, while 57.4 per cent had one pass or more at Higher level. Both were lower than in 2022/23. 'Trapped' Mr Findlay is expected to tell the Reform Scotland think tank: 'For decades, Scotland's minimum school leaving age has been 16. 'Too many young people become trapped in a system that isn't working for them. Even worse, far too many exit from it altogether. 'This is not about writing off these young people. It is the very opposite of that. It is about guiding each individual onto the path best suited to their aspirations.' He will add: 'Upon leaving school at 15, maybe even 14, they would still be required to stay in education. But it would be a form of education that works for them – a fast track to opportunity, whether college or an apprenticeship.' The plan is 'Victorian' The Scottish Tory leader will argue the move would boost Scotland's workforce by reducing skills gaps but the Liberal Democrats said the plan was 'Victorian'. Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrats' education spokesman, said: 'I'm all for increasing apprenticeships and expanding opportunities for young people but Russell Findlay seems like he is about six months away from sending kids back up chimneys.' Jenny Gilruth, the SNP education secretary, said: 'These reckless plans were proposed by the Scottish Tories in 2011 – and were soundly rejected by the Scottish people. 'The Tories should say what they mean – they want to see working class children leave school at 14 and leave academic pursuits to the middle and upper class. That is not an approach this government will agree with.'
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Attainment gap widens in Scottish schools
The attainment gap between Scotland's richest and poorest school pupils increased last year, according to new figures. The Scottish government has said since 2015 that closing this gap - between the level of national qualifications obtained by children from the most affluent and the least affluent areas - is its priority. But the latest figures show the difference has widened for pupils sitting National 4s, National 5s and Highers. The Scottish government said it was pleased that the vast majority of school leavers were going on to positive destinations such as college and university. School exams to play a smaller role in overall grades Scottish education performance falling, says study Where does Scotland stand with the attainment gap? The attainment gap between the proportion of school leavers from the most and least deprived areas who had one pass or more in National 5s or equivalent qualifications was 22.7% last year – up from 20.2% in 2022/23. The gap in the proportion of school leavers who achieved one pass or more in Highers or equivalent qualifications was 38.4% in 2023/24, up from 36.9% the previous year. The figures also show that 8,084 pupils left school after S4. That accounted for about one in seven of those leaving school, and was the highest number since 2010. The proportion of pupils who left school last year with one or more pass at National 5s, or equivalent and one or more pass at Higher level or equivalent has also dropped. Last year 83.5% of school leavers had one pass or more at National 5 level, while 57.4% had one pass or more at Higher level. Both were lower than in 2022/23. Professor Lindsay Paterson, from Edinburgh University, said the closure of schools during the Covid pandemic was one reason for the attainment gap getting worse in Scotland. "Unlike in England and other countries, there has never been a proper programme of educational recovery here," he told BBC Scotland News. "The harm is greatest to those children who have not been able to get help at home, or whose parents can't afford to pay for extra tutoring. "But behind this is a deeper problem. The Scottish government has never had a coherent strategy for dealing with the educational effects of poverty." He added that there was nothing intrinsically wrong with pupils leaving after S4 as long as they have something worthwhile to go to. Just under 56,000 young people left school last year – the highest number since 2010. More than 95% of them went on to positive destination such as university, college, employment, some training and voluntary work. This was slightly lower than the previous year but one of the highest levels since 2010. More than 67% of school leavers last year were in higher or further education three months later. Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said the government was committed to enhancing outcomes for young people. She said: "It's very welcome to see the vast majority of school leavers in Scotland continuing to enter a positive destination on leaving school, with the percentage of those in a positive destination after three months (95.7%) being the second highest since records began. "These results are testament to the hard work of the young people and all those who support them." Scottish Conservative education spokesman Miles Briggs said: "After years of insisting that education is their priority, the SNP have been missing in action while ministers have let down pupils and teachers at every turn. "Under John Swinney's government, it's our most deprived students who now face the narrowest options and the worst prospects."
