Figure 1.--These boys at an Edinburgh day schools are enjoying their lunch break. Many private schools in Scotland began to experience increased demand for places in the 1980s because of preceived problems in the state system. |
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The school system in Scotland includes both state and private schools. Scottish State schools are entirely separate from the English state schools. They are operated by the local (municipal) authorities which act as Education Authorities. Attendance is compulsory at both the primary and secondary levels. State econdary schools are commonly referred to as high schools. The school program is built around the National Guidelines and National Priorities. Learning and Teaching Scotland assists the schools in delivering the teaching program. Three bodies are responsible for inspecting and auditing educational standards. The Care Commission inspects the custodial care and health standards in pre-schools. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education is resp[onsible for educational standards in pre-schools, primary and secondary schools, and further and community education. The Scottish office of the Quality Assurance Agency is responsible for higher (tertiary) education. There has traditionally been only a small private (independent) sector, in part because the state system has been highly regarded. The private or independent sector includes, preparatory schools, academies, and secondary-level public schools. These schools include both day and boarding schools. The private schools in Scotland have been affected by the same trends as the compsrable schools in England. The private system has expanded in recent years, largely because of parental concens with preceived declines in the quality of the state system.
Scottish State schools are entirely separate from the English state schools. They are operated by the local (municipal) authorities which act as Education Authorities. Attendance is compulsory at both the primary and secondary levels. State econdary schools are commonly referred to as high schools. The school program is built around the National Guidelines and National Priorities. Learning and Teaching Scotland assists the schools in delivering the teaching program. Three bodies are responsible for inspecting and auditing educational standards. The Care Commission inspects the custodial care and health standards in pre-schools. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education is resp[onsible for educational standards in pre-schools, primary and secondary schools, and further and community education. The Scottish office of the Quality Assurance Agency is responsible for higher (tertiary) education. Children start primary school aged between 4½ and 5½ depending on when the child's birthday falls. Pupils remain at primary school for 7 years. Then aged 11 or 12 years, they start secondary school for a compulsory 4 years with the following 2 years being optional. Since 2004 work has been in progress on an education reform programme, which is to produce a new Curriculum for Excellence replacing previous guidance.
There has traditionally been only a small private (independent) sector, in part because the state system has been highly regarded. The private or independent sector includes, preparatory schools, academies, and secondary-level public schools. These schools include both day and boarding schools. The private schools in Scotland have been affected by the same trends as the compsrable schools in England. The private system has expanded in recent years, largely because of parental concens with preceived declines in the quality of the state system.
