Row looms over early entry to primary schools
Provisions of the Education (Scotland) Act 1981, designed to end legal wrangling over contentious cases about admissions to schools, are likely to lead to a further battle between the Secretary of State and parents on one side, and local authorities on the other. At issue is whether parents of children refused early entry (younger than four-and-a-half in most cases) can use the machinery of local appeals committees.
Heads told to act on bad teachers
Mr Ian Collie, Central Region director of education, said that the incompetent teacher would not be tolerated in the future as in the past. Addressing the annual gathering of Catholic heads in Crieff, Mr Collie said incompetence had never been properly dealt with unless in the form of assault or indecency.
`Industrial’ science urged
A new course in applied science and technology should be introduced in S3- 4 and be part of any compulsory core of subjects, according to a report set up by Professor K.J. Standley of the University of Dundee’s physics department. The group has been examining how application of science in the outside world could become part of the school science curriculum. It wanted to get away from teaching science mainly as an examination subject.
Association with `eccentric’ England deplored
Scots must control decision-making if they want to decide their educational future, says University of Glasgow professor of education Nigel Grant. He says: “Usually, outside influence means English influence, with the result that Scotland depends to an unreasonable degree for external stimulation on one of the world’s more eccentric educational systems.” EEC membership has not helped much because Scottish educational relationships go mainly through the Department of Education and Science in London.
Hollywood comes to Glasgow
English literature can’t be understood without a knowledge of TV and cinema, Professor Colin MacCabe - at 33, the youngest holder of a chair in English at a British university - said in his inaugural University of Strathclyde lecture. He announced that a new degree in film and television studies would be offered jointly by Glasgow and Strathclyde universities.
