No school improvements

Published 26 Jan 2010 15:26

I AM an ex-pupil of the Vale of Leven Academy (VOLA), having left the school after sixth year in 1979, and the town soon after.

I could not be much further away these days, having lived in New Zealand since 1995.

It is not often that I read the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter, or any news related to VOLA.

However, after reading an article recently, which published the updated league table of schools' performance in Scotland, I realised very little appears to have changed over the decades.

Three per cent of fifth year pupils passed five Highers.

Cause for much back-slapping all round no doubt.

Personally, having witnessed what is actually possible in a decent education system, I should stress by no means perfect, I am absolutely appalled.

I remember my school years vividly, and I can offer no more damning indictment other than I got to university despite VOLA, not because of it.

Today, I looked at the website of the school, in which the headteacher stated she would inform us of news and events in the 'termly' newsletter.

It beggars belief that a head teacher of a large secondary school can be so badly educated to invent a word such as 'termly'.

Educational standards in school start at the top and filter down - what hope of VOLA improving on that three per cent score?

Dr Ian Sutherland, New Zealand

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This letter appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 27 Jan 10

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