New ‘senior schools’ would offer pupils a greater choice

6 Jul 2012

The Scottish Conservatives are backing radical proposals which would see pupils aged 15 years and over transferred to a “senior school” once they have completed their first three years of secondary education.

The plans, which would result in teenagers being offered a wider variety of academic and vocational subjects, have been put out for public consultation by Dumfries and Galloway Council.

It is hoped that the proposals will eventually attract funding from the Scottish Government.

Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith MSP said:

“This is a very exciting and imaginative proposal from Dumfries and Galloway Council which is clearly designed to provide pupils with more choice and greater flexibility when it comes to the transition between college and university.

“I particularly welcome the fact that access to a wider variety of Highers and Advanced Highers should be on offer to more pupils – something that has clearly not been the case in far too many schools across Scotland.

“Education is changing fast in modern Scotland.

“The existing structure of comprehensive education has failed to deliver higher standards across the board and that is why it is important that there is greater diversity in the system and better responsiveness to the different demands of parents and pupils.”

Dumfries and Galloway Conservative Councillor Gail McGregor, Chair of the Education Committee, said: “Our aim is to look at the absolute best opportunities to ensure every pupil is given a chance to flourish to the best of their ability.”

 

Notes to Editors

As part of the proposals, all fourth, fifth and sixth year pupils would transfer to a newly created senior school at Dumfries Crichton Campus.

The curriculum offered at the 15-plus school would be more extensive and offer far more choice than a traditional secondary school, through forming strong partnerships with the University

Of the West of Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway College.

The initial consultation will conclude in November after which a report into the proposals will be produced by Dumfries and Galloway Council.