Multicourse teaching in Scotland: more is less
![Scottish multi course shutterstock 104967542 300tb[1]](https://d1ymz67w5raq8g.cloudfront.net/Pictures/100x67/5/8/9/113589_scottishmulticourse_shutterstock_104967542_300tb1.jpg)
How do you teach two classes at once? Bill Beveridge explains the incredible situation teachers find themselves in
Some chemistry teachers in Scotland find themselves teaching multicourse groups, consisting not just of students studying the Higher course (typically ages 16–18), but also students studying for the National 5 chemistry course (typically ages 15–16).
With the examinable content of these courses being largely mutually exclusive, teachers have to spend a lot of time planning lessons for their composite classes, devising activities and strategies to ensure that both National 5 and Higher students can be offered equal levels of teacher support during each lesson often leaves no alternative but to offer extra tutorial sessions for these students during lunchtime and after school.
A survey undertaken by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Education Division Regional Committee in Scotland shows that this may be more common than we previously thought.
Thanks for using Education in Chemistry. You can view one Education in Chemistry article per month as a visitor.
Register for Teach Chemistry for free, unlimited access
Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.
Get all this, plus much more:
- unlimited access to resources, core practical videos and Education in Chemistry articles
- teacher well-being toolkit, personal development resources and online assessments
- applications for funding to support your lessons
Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.
Not eligible for Teach Chemistry? Sign up for a personal account instead, or you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.