A Scottish survey published today has prompted fresh concerns that the “vast majority” of secondary pupils are in the same classes as peers taking courses at a different level.
The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) has called for action after a poll of 1,247 members showed a “wide disparity of practice” in different parts of the country.
“Multi-course” teaching is the practice of teaching more than one specialist subject course within the same class. For example, some teachers have to teach maths at National 4, National 5 and Higher at the same time.
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The union’s survey found that only 23 per cent of classes involve teachers working on a single qualification, while 51 per cent of classes have two qualifications and 21 per cent have three qualifications.
The SSTA says that, with the “vast majority of pupils not in single-qualification classes”, there is “strong evidence for action” to be taken to ensure that all pupils reach their potential.
Teachers had “highlighted the difficulties in trying to teach more than one course in a class when the content is completely different”. This has led to “impossible workload for teachers and a frustration that they are unable to concentrate on all the pupils all of the time”.
The union also believes that “most parents are unaware of the situation their children are facing in school”.
SSTA general secretary Seamus Searson said: “The practice of multi-course teaching has wrongly become the norm in most schools in Scotland.
“It is concerning that in a time when the focus is meeting the needs for all pupils that only a minority of pupils are finding themselves in a class with all their peers following the same course”.
“The high number of classes with two or three courses being accommodated in a class in S4 should be a major concern for all.”
Mr Searson added: “There are many factors as to why this is happening in schools and further investigation needs to be undertaken in curriculum design, timetabling, national qualifications, school league tables, class sizes, staffing difficulties and the notion of pupil choice.”
The Scottish government has been contacted for comment.
Key findings from the SSTA survey:
Single-qualification classes in S4
This ranged from 63 per cent of S4 classes in East Renfrewshire to 7 per cent in South Ayrshire. The survey also included members in independent schools, where 69 per cent of classes were found to involve a single qualification.
Two-qualification classes in S4
From 64 per cent of classes in South Ayrshire to 29 per cent in East Renfrewshire. In independent schools, the figure was 22 per cent.
Three-qualification classes in S4
From 36 per cent of classes in East Ayrshire to 3 per cent in East Dunbartonshire. In independent schools, the figure was 9 per cent.
Four-qualification classes in S4
From 10 per cent of classes in Aberdeen to 1 per cent in Fife. In independent schools, the figure was 0 per cent.
