A Quick Look at the History of Scottish Education

With a long history of high-quality education, Scotland is now famous for many world-class educational institutions. The country has always played a great role in the institutionalization of education, thanks to some great minds. Some credit goes to Roman Catholic churches which, during the medieval period, played a great role in formalizing education. 

Medieval period

Grammar and singing were the most important subjects taught in early church schools. In the 1400s, some universities were founded in the cities of Aberdeen and Glasgow. During this period, only noble families had access to formal learning, and education was compulsory only for the eldest sons of noble families. 

In the 17th century, Scotland made a lot of progress in teaching and learning important stuff, beating other European countries. Physical education, tuition in Latin, religious instruction and arithmetic were the most common subjects taught in this period. 

There were primary and secondary phases of schooling, and tuition was provided six days a week. Every day, students had to spend 10 to 12 hours in their educational institutions. 

The great transition

Scottish educational institutions began to teach other subjects such as medical sciences by the 18th century. Education Act in 1872 made school attendance compulsory for all children. Emphasis was mainly placed on reading, writing and arithmetic. The legislation resulted in greater subsidization and, and the government built many new schools. 

More and more children began to attend school, but education was still not free. Parents had to pay fees. This legislation had a huge impact on society because more and more people became interested in formal learning. 

Present states of Scottish education

In modern times, Scotland is one of the seats of learning. But the Scottish education system is in many ways different from the systems followed in Britain, Ireland and other European countries. While Scotland tends to focus on many different subjects, other countries choose to focus on fewer subjects and learn them deeply. 

However, this system often creates a lot of pressure on students. Super busy students often hire professional writers to get their academic papers written. Some students even use PhD thesis writing services that write theses for busy students. Students who have to do part-time jobs find these writing services helpful.  

There is another thing to notice. Courses in Scottish universities are usually a year longer than the courses offered by other European Universities. However, by attending a few specialized exams, students can skip the first year. 

Local authorities own and operate the schools, and students must attend both primary and secondary schools. A government body, which is responsible for maintaining the standard of education, regulates all schools. As a result, all institutions are required to follow a set course. 

Children attend school, usually between the ages of 4.5-5.5 years old. However, many younger children attend nursery schools. Most children attend secondary school at the age of 12. In secondary schools, students study as many as eight subjects. Before enrolling in a university, a student has to study for intermediate and higher grade exams. 

If you wish to learn more about the history of Scottish education, you can do your own research. There are a lot of sources that will help you learn more.