Young People in Scotland Survey 2019 - course choice in senior phase: report
A report on the findings from the Young People in Scotland survey that focuses on course choice in the senior phase.
5. Curriculum Design
The following table shows questions that focus on curriculum design. Respondents were asked a number of questions on how happy they were with how the curriculum was designed and the courses they were able to choose. Responses have been analysed based on stage, SIMD and gender.
Response options:
- Strongly agree
- Tend to agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Tend to disagree
- Strongly disagree
- Not applicable
- Don't know
- Prefer not to say
For the purposes of this analysis, 'strongly agree' and 'tend to agree' have been grouped together as 'agree', and 'strongly disagree' and 'tend to disagree' have been grouped together as 'disagree'. The options of 'not applicable', 'don't know' and 'prefer not to say' have not been included, therefore figures below may not sum to 100%.
| Pupils have a say in how the curriculum for this year has been designed in my school | The guidance I received from my school this year on choosing subjects was helpful | I feel happy with the courses that I was able to select this year | The courses that I am taking will help lead me to learning or a career that I want to pursue in the future | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agree | Disagree | Agree | Disagree | Agree | Disagree | Agree | Disagree | |
| S1 | 36% | 9% | 32% | 5% | N/A* | N/A* | N/A* | N/A* |
| S2 | 32% | 18% | 35% | 10% | 31% | 3% | 32% | 2% |
| S3 | 25% | 27% | 36% | 17% | 58% | 10% | 56% | 6% |
| S4 | 28% | 30% | 40% | 20% | 66% | 8% | 61% | 6% |
| S5 | 24% | 45% | 38% | 24% | 67% | 12% | 72% | 7% |
| S6 | 18% | 52% | 43% | 21% | 69% | 11% | 71% | 8% |
| SIMD 1 (most deprived) | 37% | 20% | 42% | 14% | 58% | 11% | 57% | 9% |
| SIMD 2 | 28% | 23% | 37% | 11% | 44% | 8% | 47% | 4% |
| SIMD 3 | 25% | 29% | 33% | 16% | 61% | 7% | 63% | 5% |
| SIMD 4 | 25% | 38% | 35% | 20% | 54% | 9% | 55% | 6% |
| SIMD 5 (least deprived) | 26% | 29% | 36% | 16% | 65% | 6% | 62% | 4% |
| Males | 33% | 25% | 40% | 13% | 57% | 8% | 56% | 5% |
| Females | 24% | 31% | 34% | 17% | 56% | 9% | 58% | 6% |
* Young people in this year group were not asked these questions
5.1 To what extent do you agree with the following statements about your experience in school this year?: Pupils have a say in how the curriculum for this year has been designed in my school (All)
Young people in S1 are more likely to agree with the above statement (36%) than those in S6 (18%). Young people from the most deprived areas (SIMD 1) are more likely to agree with the above statement than those from all other areas (37% compared to 28% - SIMD 2, 25% - SIMD 3 and 4 and 26% - SIMD 5). Males are more likely to agree with this statement than females (33% vs 24%).
5.2 To what extent do you agree with the following statements about your experience in school this year?: The guidance I received from my school this year on choosing subjects was helpful (All)
Young people in S6 are more likely to agree with the above statement (43%) than those in S1 (32%). Sixty-four per cent of young people in S6 provided a response compared to 37% in S1. Young people in S1 are not yet in a position to choose courses, and therefore less likely to require guidance and less likely to have a positive or negative opinion. Young people from the most disadvantaged areas (SIMD 1) are more likely to agree with the above statement (42%), compared to 36% of young people from the least disadvantaged areas (SIMD 5). Males are more likely to agree with this statement than females (40% vs 34%).
5.3 To what extent do you agree with the following statements about your experience in school this year?: I feel happy with the courses that I was able to select this year (S2-S6)
This statement was given to those in S2-S6. Young people in S6 are more likely to agree with this statement than those in S2 (69% compared to 31%). However, as was mentioned before in regards to S1 pupils, young people in S2 are less likely to have a say on course choice and may be less likely to engage with the question as a result. Young people in SIMD 5 are the most likely to report feeling happy with the courses they were able to choose (65%), followed closely by young people in SIMD 3 (61%). Young people in SIMD 2 are the least likely to report feeling happy with the courses they were able to choose (44%). Young people in the most disadvantaged areas (SIMD 1) reported receiving helpful guidance, however they are less likely to report feeling happy with the courses they were able to select. Most males and females agree with this statement (57% and 56% respectively).
5.4 To what extent do you agree with the following statements about your experience in school this year?: The courses that I am taking will help lead me to learning or a career that I want to pursue in the future (S2-6)
This statement was given to those in S2-S6. As young people move through school they agree more with the above statement (32% in S2 and 71% in S6). Young people in S2 are most likely of the year groups to say they didn't know (32%).This is likely because they are not yet in a position to choose courses that will influence their future careers. Young people from the least deprived backgrounds (SIMD 5) are more likely to agree with the above statement (62%) than those from the most deprived areas (SIMD 1) (57%), however young people in SIMD 3 are most likely to agree (63%). Young people from SIMD 2 are the least likely to agree with the above statement (47%). Most males and females agree with this statement (56% and 58% respectively).
Contact
Email: Social_Research@gov.scot
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