The Scottish Abstract of Statistics No 26,1998

5 education and training

Schools

5.1 Schools in Scotland fall into four main groups:

Education authority schools are financed partly by central government (through revenue support grants) and partly from local taxation. These are under the management of education authorities, who are responsible for the allocation of funding. School Boards are currently established in around three quarters of education authority schools. Boards consist of parents and teachers (both categories elected) and members co-opted from the local community - parents are in the majority. School Boards have a duty to promote contact between parents, the school and the community, and have certain specific responsibilities such as involvement in the procedures for the appointment of senior staff and the community use of school premises. They may also take on further executive functions by delegation from their education authority. Main elections to Boards are held every two years. Two schools - Dornoch Academy and St. Mary’s Primary School, Dunblane have self-governing status and receive funding direct from central government. A small number of grant-aided schools, mainly in the special sector, are run by boards of managers who receive grants from central government. Independent schools are run by the proprietors without any aid from public funds. Some of these schools participate in the assisted places scheme currently being phased out, which provides financial assistance for secondary pupils who would otherwise have been unable to attend an independent school.

In this publication, schools are grouped into publicly funded schools (comprising education authority, grant-aided and self-governing schools) and independent schools.

5.2 A publicly funded school may comprise one or more departments, each one of which is a separately organised unit catering for pupils at a particular stage or in a particular category of education: nursery, primary, secondary or special. Nursery schools and classes provide education on a full or part time basis for children below compulsory school age, primary schools for children aged between 5 and 12 and secondary schools for pupils between 12 and 16 -18 depending on when individual pupils choose to leave school. Special schools/departments provide education for children who, because of specific special needs, would find it too difficult to cope in ordinary schools. Children may also receive education other than in school, e.g. children who are in hospital or who are confined to their homes because of physical disability. Parents can make a placing request to the local authority for their child to attend a particular school.

5.3 Unlike England and Wales, there is no statutory national curriculum in Scotland. Pupils aged 5-14 study a broad curriculum based on national guidelines which set out the aims of the study, the ground to be covered and the way the pupils’ learning should be assessed and reported. Post 14-year-olds take courses leading to awards in the Scottish Certificate of Education at Standard Grade and Higher Grade, and/or Scottish Vocational Educational Council (SCOTVEC) modules. They can also take the Certificate of Sixth Year Studies in the final year.

5.4 Examinations for the Scottish Education Certificate (SCE) are the responsibility of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). The SQA Standard (S) grade courses lead to an examination at the end of the fourth year of secondary schooling. Standard grades, which superseded Ordinary (O) grades, are awarded on a 1-7 scale; grades 1-3 are regarded as equivalent to O grade A-C awards and grades 4-5 to D-E awards. There are no O grade equivalents of S grades 6 and 7. Examinations at the Higher (H) grade normally require one further year of study and may be taken at the end of the fifth or sixth year.

Further Education

5.5 In 1996-97 there were 43 independent incorporated further education colleges in Scotland funded by the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department and a further two (Orkney College of Further Education and Shetland College of Further Education) funded by their respective local councils and supported by direct payments from the SOEID. The incorporated colleges are run by individual college boards of management, the membership of which includes local employers, a member nominated by the Local Enterprise Company, senior college management, and staff and student representatives. Most of the courses offered by further education colleges are accredited and awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). Many colleges now have agreements with higher education institutions to allow students to progress straight onto a higher education course, and improved links with industry have enhanced the relevance of courses.

5.6 Vocational qualifications in Scotland, which are based on free-standing units of study, each covering a particular topic area and incorporating a number of demonstrable skills, were designed to meet the needs of individuals and employers. These modules are available individually or as part of a group award and may be gained on a part or full-time study basis or by assessment within the workplace. Units are available at National Certificate (NC) - further education and Higher National Certificate or Higher National Diploma (HNC/HND) - higher education levels.

Data for students are collected by SOEID in the Further Education Statistics (FES) system. These returns are made by each further education college or centre and are processed and analysed by SOEID. There are 2 returns, an autumn return in December, and a full sessional return in September (tables 5D1, 5D2 & 5D3 ).

5.7 The subject headings have been amended from 19 headings to 20 since the last publication of the Scottish Abstract of Statistics. Some heading names have changed e.g. Computing becomes Information Technology, Printing now comes under Media Studies and Sport and Recreation becomes Sport and Leisure. This reflects a change in subject coding by SOEID.

5.8 Information on the destination of all graduates and diplomates from full-time higher education courses in FE colleges is collected by SOEID via the First Destination Statistics (FDG) return. These returns are made by each further education college or centre and are processed and analysed by SOEID (table 5D5).

Higher Education

5.9 There are presently 22 higher education institutions (HEls) in Scotland, comprising 13 universities and the remaining former central institutions and teacher education institutions. 21 of these are funded by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC), which has direct responsibility for quality assurance in the institutions it funds. The Scottish Agricultural College - which combines the 3 former agricultural central institutions continues to be funded by The Scottish Office Department of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries (For statistical purposes, SAC is included as a higher education institution.)

Higher education courses can also be undertaken at further education institutions (FEIs).

5.10 A full-time first degree in Scotland generally takes 4 years for Honours and 3 years for the broad-based Ordinary degree - a particular feature of the Scottish system. A degree course in some professional subjects, however, such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and architecture, can last for 5 or 6 years. Diplomas and Certificates at higher level are also awarded. Many courses are available as full-time, part-time or sandwich courses.

5.11 The Open University which has an office in Edinburgh, provides part-time courses leading to degrees. Courses are open to adults throughout the United Kingdom, and are provided by a combination of television, radio, correspondence, tutorials, short residential courses and local audio visual centres. No formal academic qualifications are required for entry.

5.12 Teacher training courses lead to the award of a Teaching Qualification in Primary or Secondary Education. The former is awarded after successful completion of either a 4 year course leading to the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a one year course of training following a degree or other approved equivalent course. The latter is awarded in a particular subject or subjects from the secondary school curriculum after successful completion of either a one year course of training following a degree (or other approved course) in the specific subject, or a four year course leading to the BEd degree in physical education, music or technological education.

In 1996-97, 6 institutions in Scotland offered initial teacher training courses, 5 teacher education institutions and the Department of Education at Stirling University, which offers a 7/9 semester concurrent course.

5.13 Prior to 1994-95, data on higher education were collected from a variety of returns made to The Scottish Office Education Department and the Universities’ Statistical Record. From 1994-95, information on higher education institutions has been collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), while information on the further education institutions continues to be collected by the Further Education Statistics (FES) system.

5.14 In Scotland, the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) is responsible (since 1 April 1994) for granting assistance to Scottish or EU students undertaking full-time courses of higher education. To be eligible for an award, applicants must satisfy certain criteria regarding residence in Scotland, educational background, and the course for which the assistance is required. The award may cover course fees only or, in addition, a maintenance allowance, the level of which is determined by personal, parental or spousal income. Other supplementary allowances may also be payable.

5.15 Most full-time first degree courses and equivalent level qualifications are included in the Students’ Allowances Scheme, as well as the postgraduate teaching qualifications and some sub-degree courses. From 1991-92 onwards, full-time HNC courses were included in the scheme, introducing a discontinuity in the figures between 1990-91 and 1991-92. Certain other postgraduate qualifications are covered by the Postgraduate Students’ Allowances or Studentship schemes.

Community Education

5.16 The statutory provision of community education by local authorities is described in SOEID Circular 6/95 under three main headings - adult education, educational support for community development and work with children and young people.

Examples of the provision covered by community education include:

independent educational guidance for adults; courses and other educational activities which are negotiated with individuals and groups in order to address such issues as social, environmental, economic and health needs; promotion of, and support for, volunteering and voluntary organisations; after-school care and holiday play scheme provision; informal youth club provision and the programmes of voluntary youth organisations; and youth information services.

Data on participation in community education are collected by SOEID in the Community Education Statistics (CES) system. These returns are made by each local authority and are processed and analysed by SOEID (tables 5F1, 5F2 & 5F3).

Government Training Initiatives

5.17 Government training initiatives are funded by The Scottish Office through Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the 22 Local Enterprise Companies (LECs).

5.18 The three main programmes are:

Skillseekers which offers a guarantee of a vocational training place to young people under 18, leading to qualifications awarded by the SQA. It offers a broad-based vocational education and training, including planned work experience, and enables trainees to work towards a qualification equivalent to at least SVQ level 2. Modern apprenticeships are also available to 16 and 17 year olds and are typically focused on a more specific occupational area, lasting three years or so. They are provided through contracts with independent training providers. Training for work is operated by LECs to provide support to employers to train potential employees who have been unemployed for over 6 months. Training can be delivered in or out of the workplace to assist trainees to gain experience and skills for employment, or to lead to a vocational qualification which will help secure employment.

5.19 A great deal of training is provided by independent trainers and lies outwith the education system. However, it generally leads to recognised qualifications and is partly provided by Further Education Colleges.

5.20 Employer-funded training may take a variety of forms and take place both on and off-the job. It varies enormously in terms of level and content, as well as other factors such as location, duration and degree of informality. As a rule, this kind of training does not lead to a qualification although increasing numbers of employees are pursuing training which will ultimately lead to formal qualifications, such as SVQs.

New Deal for Young Unemployed People

5.21 This is aimed at those aged 18-24 who have been claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) for at least 6 months. Those joining New Deal first enter a Gateway period lasting up to 4 months, during which Employment Service and their partners will work with them to improve their employability, and to find unsubsidised jobs for as many as possible. Those who do not find a job will then move onto one of four options:

a period of subsidised employment, lasting 6 months (including, from June, support to become self-employed), a course of full-time education/training, a job with an Environment Task Force, a job in the Voluntary Sector.

5.22 If the client reaches the end of their option, and still has not obtained a job, they will normally re-claim JSA, and will enter a Follow-through period. During this, they will remain on JSA, but receive intensive help to find a job.