Call for two-year Higher courses in new parents’ charter on education

A call for Highers to become two-year courses has been included in a new parents’ charter, which has been launched in the run-up to next week’s Holyrood election.

While Higher courses are traditionally taught to pupils in S5, Connect – the organisation which represents all parents councils in Scotland – urged politicians to consider embedding two-year Higher courses.

It is one of more than 70 calls for action on education included in the new charter produced by the organisation – which represents tens of thousands of parents across Scotland.

Connection also wants to see improved access to qualifications for home-educated youngsters, together with a national strategy for what it terms “highly able learners”.

In addition, it is calling for improvements in diagnosing and helping children with additional support needs, stressing the need for specialist staff, equipment and IT

Connect said that “mainstream primary and secondary schools must do more in this area as, right now, the system is letting our young people down”.

It added: “Many are not getting the education they need as there is an overwhelming lack of resource and funding and schools are beyond stretched.”

Connect added that its parents charter was the result of “thousands of interactions with parents and carers in Scotland”.

Gavin Yates, executive director at Connect, said: “For too long the views of parents and carers have not been given the weight they deserve in improving opportunities for our children.

“Scotland’s mums, dads, and carers are the champions of, and advocates for, their children.

“They are the primary providers and first educators of their children and they are taxpayers too. Their voices must be heard. We urge everyone to sign up to support the charter.”

Adding that the charter “aims to amplify parents’ voices”, Mr Yates said it was part of Connect’s “campaign for a better future for all of Scotland’s children”.

He added: “Connect will continue in its mission to hear and put forward the range and diversity of parents’ experiences and views – we encourage all education partners in schools, local authorities, education organisations and Scottish Government to do the same.

“As one parent commented in a survey, ‘We are all in this together and parents’ experience should be valued and sought out.’”