This paper offers an analysis of Modern Studies, a school subject unique to Scotland. First taught in the 1960s, Modern Studies was originally conceived as an option for students discontinuing their studies in history and geography. Since then, though, Modern Studies has carved a distinctive curricular niche and has become one of the most popular…

Raising attainment has become an over-riding concern for politicians and educational administrators on both sides of the Atlantic. The public perception, often generated by adverse reports in the media, is of declining educational standards. However, it is often difficult to compare standards across time and between countries since assessments do…

The teaching of drama in Scottish secondary schools focuses on: (1) Creating; (2) Presenting; and (3) Evaluating. In engaging with these elements, students at "all" stages are encouraged to develop their own dramas from ideas which are prompted by a variety of stimuli. From a wide range of starting points, students work through the…