Scottish Fair 2003

1. Scottish Fair 2003 Schools in Scotland

2. Some basic facts: • The scottish school system is integrated in the state, as the teachers are fully paid by it • Scotland has a full comprehensive school system that was tridivided up to the 60‘s, as in Germany • Catholic schools are always ruled by the state

3. Attendance and Absence “One of the major issues currently affecting education in Scotland is the level of absenteeism in schools and the subsequent affect it has on pupil learning and educational attainment. Across the country the level of absence recorded in 1999/00 varied quite significantly from virtually zero in some primary schools to around 100 half days absence per pupil in the worst affected secondary schools. Recently there has been some indication that the levels of absence are beginning to fall. After a high in the school year 1995/96 of 46 half days absence per secondary pupil and 22 half days absence per primary pupils, the most recent figures are 41 and 19 half days respectively.“ Source:www.scotland.gov.com

4. Development of number of pupils • In 1872, the Education Act made parents responsible for the education of their children aged between 5 and 13 • Around 1910, 200 new schools were founded • Today there are roundabout 2900 publicly founded schools

5. Development of number of pupils from 1970-2010 Source:www.scotland.gov.com

6. Development of number of pupils • Most of the Scottish pupils (about 90 %) attend public schools, private schools are the exception • Independent schools basically located between Aberdeen City, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Kinros, in several other parts no private schools at all • In 1972/73 the school leaving age was increased for two years

7. Teacher numbers • Over the last 10 years there has been a change in the ratio of male to female teachers • The average age of teachers has increased

8. Teacher numbers by school type (publicly funded), 1970-1999 Source:www.scotland.gov.com

9. Age distribution of teachers in Secondary Schools (publicly funded), 1992 and 1998 Source:www.scotland.gov.com

10. Class sizes • Maximum for primary school is 33 pupils for single stage and 25 pupils for composite stage classes • In 1997 nearly 24 % of children were taught in classes of over 30 pupils, in 1999 just under 14 %

11. Table 3.3 Size of single stage P1-P3 classes (publicly funded), 1999 Class size 1999 Classes Pupils Number Percentage Number Percentage 0-15 143 2.5 1,678 1.2 16-20 681 12.0 12,654 8.8 21-25 1,928 34.0 44,693 31.3 26-30 2,309 40.7 64,368 45.0 31-33 572 10.1 18,353 12.8 33+ 34 0.6 1,244 0.9 All 5,667 100.0 142,990 100.0 Size of single stage P1-P3 classes (publicly funded), 1999 Source:www.scotland.gov.com

12. Computer at school • Though nearly every school in scotland is supposed to be linked, there are still lots of pupils and even teachers that do not have an e-mail address at school • The schools we visited do not have a website in the internet!

13. School Type Primary Secondary Special Pupil: Computer ratio 28 9 7 For schools with internet e-mail facilities: Percentage of teachers with an e.mail address 8 11 6 Percentage of pupils with an e.mail address 0 7 2 Access to computer and e-mail addresses in schools (publicly funded: Sept 1999) Source:www.scotland.gov.com

14. Leaving school • The minimal age to leave school is 16 year, if you do your A-level with 17 or 18 you can go to a college or a university • Since the late 80‘s pupils decide to stay longer at school, achieving higher attainment levels in order to continue education after school

15. Leaver desinations from publicly funded schools (June 1993, 1996 and 2000) Source:www.scotland.gov.com

16. Leaving school “The destinations of pupils who left school in the years 1992-93 to 1999-00 are shown in Chart before. Over this period the percentages of school leavers entering full-time further or higher education have increased. Whilst the percentage of leavers taking up training has significantly decreased over the period, it should be noted that school leavers entering employment may also be participating in training through the Skillseekers programme.”

17. A concrete example: St. Columba‘s and Woodmill High School

18. The location St. Columba‘s High School

19. School visit • The St. Columba‘s High School consists of 950 pupils • French is foreign language no. 1, German only no. 2, but it has still a good reputation at school (nearly 50 % are learning it) • But: after next year German is not being taught before the first four years, pupils will have continue with French • Basically pupils do not want to learn a foreign language problem of motivation

20. According to increasing social and other problems teachers become prepared for their new tasks, next to the teaching

21. Quotations from the interviews with pupils

22. “I Didn‘t want to learn German, but I had no choice“ “It is not very interesting to learn a foreign language and it‘s very hard.“ “I don‘t know anything about Germany.“

23. “If we don‘t wear our school uniformes we are sent home!“ „I want to leave and go to Miami.“ “We hate our school uniforms!“

24. “I don‘t like Scotland.“ „The scottish accent is the best in the world.“ „Scotland is cool.“ „I cannot expect going abroad.“