Scots schools bridging class divide

Scotland's education system was praised yesterday after a new report found it was one of the least socially divided in the world.

Schools in other industrialised nations, including England, the United States and Germany, are often split along social class lines, but those in Scotland were more likely to include young people from a range of backgrounds, the academics' report said.

Of the 27 nations analysed, only Norway's education system was found to be more socially inclusive than Scotland's.

England had the seventh most socially segregated education system, behind countries such as France, Germany and Belgium.

The researchers, from Essex and Southampton universities, say Scots pupils are more likely to do well academically because they go to school with youngsters from a range of social backgrounds.

John Micklewright, a professor of social statistics at Southampton University, paid tribute to the Scottish approach. "One of the features about education in Scotland is they have got a genuinely comprehensive school system, whereas here in England there's a mish-mash of grammar schools in some areas, city academies and foundation schools," he said.

"In Scotland, the system is much more simple and it's good to see some social statistics where the country comes out well. In general, a system where the rich go to school with the rich and the poor go to school with the poor is not a very cohesive society."

He went on: "The other reason why greater social integration in schools is desirable is because it improves academic achievement.

"There is a reasonable body of evidence which shows that academic achievement can depend on who you go to school with.

"If people from the rich class are just at school with other rich kids then that may help their academic achievement, but by the same token if youngsters from a poor background go to school with other poor children, it could push their achievement down. Social segregation increases the inequality in academic achievement, which is why less social segregation is a desirable thing."

The study was carried out in response to the UK government's education reform plans, which critics claim will lead to a "two-tier" system south of the Border.

Under the plans, state schools would have control over admissions policy, sparking fears that pupils may be chosen on the basis of their academic ability.

The government has insisted that will not be the case and a spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills

said: "Our proposals will create more good schools, improve access for disadvantaged pupils and increase choice for parents.

"The government acted to rule out further academic selection in 1998 and the white paper is clear that there will be no new academic selection."

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Executive said it was sticking to the comprehensive approach.

She said: "Scotland's education system is one of the best in the world. Our comprehensive and inclusive approach to education is at the heart of ensuring that our children are prepared to play a full and active part in society.

"This approach has recently been complemented by our Ambitious Excellent Schools programme, which aims to give pupils the confidence and ambition to aim high and to give them the teaching, support and choice to fulfil their individual aims."

Kevin Schofield
25 January 2006

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=120052006

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