dgp4indy

Education

Encouraging More People To Retrain As Teachers In Scotland

More people are being encouraged to retrain as teachers in Scotland's secondary schools in science, technology, engineering and mathematics - known as STEM subjects. The success of the STEM bursary programme saw  107 bursaries approved totalling more than £2 million – exceeding its original target of 100. The  subjects eligible for bursaries of up to £20,000 were Chemistry, Computing Science, Mathematics, Physics and Technology. The extension of the STEM bursary scheme will be available for those wishing to apply for teacher training places in August 2019. The bursary will enable those who would like a change of career to apply for the bursary and to retrain as teachers gaining the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).
https://theorkneynews.scot/2018/11/17/encouraging-a-wider-range-of-people-to-train-as-teachers-in-scotland/

Standing Up For Scottish Education

"In 2015, at the request of the Scottish Government, the OECD published a review of Curriculum for Excellence (http://www.oecd.org/education/school/Improving-Schools-in-Scotland-An-OECD-Perspective.pdf ) As we are bombarded with negativity today, its worth remembering what the OECD concluded:

“The Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) is an important reform to put in place a coherent 3-18 curriculum. It privileges learning and a holistic understanding of what it means to be a young Scot growing up in today’s world.

At its heart are the four fundamental capacities: i) Successful Learners, ii) Confident Individuals, iii) Responsible Citizens, and, iv) Effective Contributors. Up to around age 15, the aim is to lay the foundations for lifetimes of learning through Broad General Education (BGE), incorporating primary and the first stages of secondary schooling but also early learning from age 3 onwards. BGE is the main object of this OECD review.

There is a great deal to be positive about in such a review: learners are enthusiastic and motivated, teachers are engaged and professional, and system leaders are highly committed. There has been intensive activity to create suites of support materials and a drive to address excessive bureaucracy. There have been extensive professional learning events organised throughout Scotland.

CfE has been anchored in consensus and a wider set of parallel reforms.”"
https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com

Remaining In The UK Is A Threat To Scottish Universities And Students

"Scotland pays University fees through general taxation. The downside of this is that universities are funded at a lower level. Despite this, they have managed to maintain a high ranking internationally. Edinburgh is consistently in the world top 20 in the QS ranking system. Glasgow and St Andrews are also in the world top 100 and several other Scottish Universities feature in the top 500. The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is fifth in the world, according to this widely-respected ranking. The UK Government is now creating additional challenges for Scottish universities with its hard Brexit. In the past, they have been able to attract funding from the EU –  but now they look set to lose millions and many prestigious research opportunities through Brexit."
https://www.believeinscotland.org

  1. Scottish Ecucation More Successful Because It's More Equal?
  2. % Of Children With Developmental Concerns In Scotland Falls 20% In 4 Years
  3. Scotland Has 35% More Teachers Per Capita Than Tory England
  4. Fall In Scottish Teacher Vacancies