Social subject investigations at Standard grade are “socially divisive” and can favour more advantaged pupils, Tayside Region has concluded in its evidence to the Scottish Examination Board.
The board issued a consultation paper last November inviting views about the reform of investigations and tests of practical ability after teacher unions and local authorities complained about the extra work involved for pupils and teachers and the unfairness of the in-depth studies. History and geography drew most criticism.
Tayside favours shorter practical exercises based on materials produced by the board. Such an approach could be managed by timetabling the exercises during the prelim examinations. The Sixth Year Studies geography paper is said to provide one model, along with the revised Higher for modern studies.
