School introduces selective streaming

The school has introduced a fast-track stream

A Scottish school has placed 60 of its brightest first-year pupils in a fast-track class in an attempt to improve results.

Critics have claimed the introduction of a controversial streaming system at St Paul's High School, in the Pollok area of Glasgow, goes against the principles of comprehensive education in which pupils of mixed ability are taught together.

Rod O'Donnell, head teacher at the school - located in an area of high unemployment and social deprivation - claimed that streaming would allow children to make better progress.

But opponents said the move was divisive and against the spirit of Scottish education.

Pupils will be streamed in first year at High School

The introduction of a fast-track class goes beyond the system of 'setting' practised by many Scottish schools.

Setting means putting pupils of similar ability together just for certain lessons.

So, for example, it would be possible to be in a top set for French and a lower set for mathematics.

However, under the streaming system the school has chosen 60 pupils in the first year, who have achieved the best test results in primary school.

These pupils form two A stream classes that will be taught all subjects together for the first two years.

Academic achievement

Mr O'Donnell said he preferred to call the system "differentiation" or "appropriateness" rather than streaming.

He said: "I differentiate and create an appropriate curriculum for all my first year pupils based on the information we have from prior learning in the primaries."

Mr O'Donnell said he believed that academic achievement would rise for the entire school as all children are taught in lessons tailored to their ability.

He said that pupils will be able to move into the fast track class if they display the ability to cope in that environment.

The headteacher told News Online: "I want every child in my first year right through to my sixth year to have an equal experience and if I can adjust the curriculum suitably to improve that quality I will do that."

He said: "I want every child in my first year right through to my sixth year to have an equal experience and if I can adjust the curriculum suitably to improve that quality I will do that."

Rod O'Donnell, head teacher at St Paul's

Mr O'Donnell said he had the full backing of the Scottish Executive which recognised that he knows the local agenda in the area in which he teaches.

Willie Hart, secretary of the Glasgow branch of teaching union the Educational Institute of Scotland, said the move was against the spirit of Scottish education.

He said: "It seems to be the reintroduction by the back door of selection in Scotland.

"This is a very significant move away from comprehensive education and is not helpful to raising standards.

"All the evidence historically is that when you have a high degree of separation of able children it leads to unequal and unfair outcomes for the other children."

Recognition of ability

Judith Gillespie, development manager of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council, said the organisation had no problem with so-called 'setting', but she disagreed with 'streaming'.

She said: "What you find with setting is that although you get a few youngsters across the top set in everything it will generally vary across the different subjects and this is a real recognition of ability.

"The trouble with streaming is that on the basis of a limited range of subjects, generally English and arithmetic, people are put together and do everything together.

"They are tied to that group and their potential in other subjects like music and art is ignored.

"Past experience of selection at 11 has shown it to be very inaccurate and if you lock people into a lower ability group they can get demoralised and find it difficult to change and get into the fast lane."