Craigroyston welcomes the Education Minister

Cabinet Secretary for Education Angela Constance paid a visit to  Craigroyston Community High School this morning to hear about the progress the pupils and staff are making in introducing new qualifications as part of Curriculum for Excellence.

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The Government announced that there is a record number of provisional entries for Highers to be sat in a few months time.

Ms Constance met with senior school staff and with school pupils to hear about their experiences in this important year for the new qualifications. Representatives from the Scottish Qualifications Authority and Education Scotland were also on hand to get updates from ‘those on the ground’.

Headteacher Steve Ross is enthusiastic about the new exam regime, and explained that the school has taken an innovative approach to the introduction of the new exams. He told The Edinburgh Reporter: “I have been told by curricular leaders who have led the old and new regimes that many of the new Highers have encouraged our pupils to have more personalisation and choice.

The school got a very good report from the Schools Inspectorate who visited the school at the end of 2014, but the head was keen to stress that they are not resting on their laurels and still have many things to do on their improvement plan.

All three final years are treated as one and taught in such a way that encourages young people to stay on till the end of Sixth year. By then the school hopes that they will have a portfolio of qualifications, skills and knowledge of the job market so that they can then leave for a positive destination.