Secondary schools in the southwest of Scotland, led by Dumfries and Galloway, are working together to provide a more equitable curriculum for pupils in the senior phase through a virtual learning campus.
140 senior pupils, including 63 from Dumfries and Galloway, have started to study for their Advanced Highers through remote learning.
Courses are being delivered through @South-West Connect, e-Sgoil and Glasgow Caledonian University Advanced Higher Hub. They will will mainly be delivered digitally but face-to-face or lab time will be built into the course plans when needed.
Virtual learning will provide high quality learning and teaching, while affording greater flexibility of time and place. Advanced Higher subjects available are biology, chemistry, English, French, geography, graphic communication, history, mathematics, modern studies, physical education, physics and Spanish.
The South West Education Improvement Collaborative promotes collaborative working for schools in Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire. Gillian Brydson, Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Director of Skills Education and Learning is the regional lead.
Councillor Jeff Leaver, chair of the Education committee, said: “This innovative approach will enable young people to build their capacity to go onto work, college or university equipped with the skills that they need. This is the result to listening to senior pupils and delivering what they require.”
Councillor Ros Surtees, vice chair, said: “The virtual learning campus not only delivers on the needs of senior pupils, it eliminates the need to transport pupils between schools and drives down our environmental impact.”
