Government accused of a lack of ambition after axing school scheme

A SCHEME aimed at boosting pupils' achievements in under-performing schools and deprived areas is to be wound up by the Scottish Government.

The Schools of Ambition programme is to end in 2010, having helped 52 schools – just over half the original target of 100.

Only two schools in the Capital were ever enrolled onto the scheme and Gracemount and Queensferry High Schools were due to see their £100,000-a-year funding end in 2010.

However, the Capital does suffer from a significant attainment gap between deprived and more affluent areas. A study showed a three-year reading gap between pupils starting secondary school.

The other initiative aimed at narrowing that gap – the Hunter Foundation's 20:20 Vision, which has seen Castlebrae, Wester Hailes and Craigroyston receive £1.5 million over three years – is also due end by 2010.

Scotland's largest teaching union said the Schools of Ambition programme had been well received and had already made an impact in the city, particularly in relation to the improving Gracemount High.

Colin Mackay, Edinburgh secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland, said: "It's an initiative bringing advantages back to deprived areas and we are very sorry to see that go.

"Gracemount is making great strides forward, it's a schools that has picked itself up by the bootstraps. Schools of Ambition has had an impact as have other factors such as the new building."

The Scottish Government has said ending Schools of Ambition is not a policy change as none of the schools currently benefiting will see their funding cut.

It was brought in as a Labour policy in 2005 and was criticised by Fiona Hyslop, the current education secretary who was then in opposition, for benefiting some schools rather than the entire state system.

However, Judith Gillespie, policy development manager with the Scottish Parent Teacher Council (SPTC) said: "If this money had been distributed between every school in Scotland, it would have made no impact and this scheme has had an impact."

Councillor Andrew Burns, Labour's education spokesman in Edinburgh, said the decision to end Schools of Ambition was "very disappointing", He said: "Announcing this, without making clear what will replace it shows, ironically, a lack of ambition."

He said the Scottish Government had so far failed to fund the city council's plans to refurbish or rebuild five schools at an anticipated cost of £100 million.

"There clearly seems to have been, since the election, at national level a downgrading of the importance of education.

"A lot of programmes have been cancelled or put on hold and this is another example."

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: "There are no plans to continue the scheme at present, although the schools currently on the programme will continue to be funded. We will ensure that any positive lessons learned can benefit education as a whole."

CUTTING IT: From left, Gemma Bell, 15, Kerri McKay, 16, and Jordan Parker, 15, pamper hair stylist Charlie Miller

Pupils enjoy brush with top city hair stylist
TOP city stylist Charlie Miller gets a makeover from Castlebrae Community High pupils after the opening of a hairdressing salon at the school.

A workshop and garage have also been built inside the city school as part of an initiative to help cut truancy.

Teachers said today that youngsters who are taking the new hairdressing, childcare, construction and car mechanic classes at Castlebrae are also doing better in traditional subjects.

The vocational classes are offered to pupils at the Craigmillar school alongside Standard Grade subjects, as part of a £1.5 million investment for three Edinburgh schools from city entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter and the Scottish Government.

Pupils on the hairdressing course have the backing of Mr Miller who has snapped up one of its "graduates" for his own salon – while Ford, Sharkeys, Parc and the Castlebrae Family Centre are also business partners.

At the official launch of the school's new areas, teachers said vocational subjects had given children a different attitude to learning.

Deputy headteacher Grace Vickers said: "They have been very positive about it."

• Hunter Foundation website
• Edinburgh City Council website