Class Rules: The truth about Scottish Schools

by James McEnaney

238 pages, Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 2021

About the author

James McEnaney is a lecturer, journalist and writer who currently lives near Glasgow. He teaches English, Communication and Social Studies in a college in the city, having previously taught at Arran High School from 2011-2014.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a parent, not a teacher, and now have a much deeper understanding of the current Scottish exams system than ever before, despite years of attending parents' evenings about it. Between them my three children have come through the first years of Nat 5s and CfE, Covid disruption, and my youngest may or may not be getting her first ever exam diet. Her big brother had his Higher results created from teachers' estimates, then marked down by SQA, then re-instated after a national outcry. This book looks at the data and reasoning behind all these events, the inbuilt disadvantages some pupils face in our education system. It also, importantly, suggests ways to improve it. Would encourage parents, pupils and teachers to read through this detailed analysis. I finally have managed to understand what's been going on. We could do better.

[John Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 3.5 in my book, rounding up because it's clear the research effort that has gone into it.

The first half of the book is dry - statistics are presented as gotchas and if you've got a decent understanding of inequality in Scotland it is not new - even if it remains shocking and deflating.

Where the book shines is in the latter half. The analysis of what went wrong during COVID is outstanding. The SQA is absolutely dragged, and deservedly so. I also liked the positive uptick as the author describes what Scotland does well and its place in the world comparatively.

In all, a worthy read for stakeholders in Scottish education.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We cling to our existing approach not because it is fair, or even because it is accurate, but because it makes it easy to ration success and access in ways that maintain existing hierarchies and class divides.”

A must-read for anyone who considers themselves a stakeholder in the Scottish education system. We have to do better.