Post-compulsory Education in Scottish Schools

With the introduction of the new Revised Higher Grade Examination in Music, the proposed Certificate of Sixth Year Studies in Music and the plethora of modules and short courses available from the Scottish Vocational and Educational Council and the Scottish Examination Board, teachers now have the opportunity to tailor courses to suit individual student needs. Those involved in planning have been meticulous in ensuring that performing, inventing and listening are present at all stages of certification. This ‘comprehensive musician’ approach ensures that students have breadth of experience in playing more than one instrument and that they are all involved in inventing – improvising, composing or arranging. In addition, having adopted a concept-based approach to the acquisition of knowledge and understanding, the whole process is very clearly associated with the philosophy of the ‘spiral’ curriculum.