Senior pupils at Carnoustie High are in a state of revolt after being led to believe the long-standing tradition of “free” study periods for sixth-year students is to be abolished.

Fifth-year pupil Joanne Smith, due to move up to sixth year next month, contacted The Courier after being told she and her classmates would no longer be allowed the extra study time and would, instead, be required to choose further curriculum subjects to create a full weekly timetable.

However Angus Council insists the pupils have misunderstood the situation and that creation of a full timetable is a purely administrative exercise which will resolve itself after the exam “season.”

Joanna said they had just received enraging news that when they move up into S6 in 37 days they will be the first year to be deprived of free periods to allow extra study time.

“Instead, we are being forced to pick up another five subjects and to have a full timetable.

“This news came as complete shock to us as never before have such rules been imposed.

“Their alleged reason for such rules is our apparent disappointing results we obtained in standard grades and in our recent S5 prelims.

“I have failed to find any information to back this statement up and so have Emailed the local council asking for their help.

“We have countless numbers of reasons as to why we feel the rules are unfair. For example, by forcing us to take unwanted and needed subjects it increases an unnecessary work load and wastes the pupils’, teachers’ and examiners’ time.

“Our year group officer stated he was in favour of democracy and feels that we have a right to express our very strong opinions, so we feel we should do everything in our power to stand up for our rights.”

Fellow S5 pupil Graham Robertson said, “Whilst innocently attending school on Tuesday the current fifth-year pupils were called in to an assembly to receive instructions for the forthcoming higher examinations . . .

“However, at the end of this assembly we were informed that the following year any pupils staying on will be required to take a full timetable of subjects for yet another year.

“Many people will be saying ‘Good: get an education you youthful delinquent,’ and this is exactly the attitude I expect.

“As the news of this injustice spread, myself and a number of pupils decided that we were being treated unfairly and so decided to petition the school to voice our full opinion.

“The petition was handed around pupils in fifth year and an overwhelming majority signed, even a number of other years’ pupils signed without being requested to.

“A number of staff members also expressed their support for us but refused to sign the petition as they had been warned not to by the establishment.

“After this we were informed that ‘the school maintains the right to ignore the petition.’ When did we lose the right to express the opinions we hold, and when did it become fair to allow us a pupil council and claim to treat us like adults and then to refuse to hear our voice and even consult us on their rule changes?

“The previous system for sixth years has been running for years and has been successful, although the school finds it difficult to encourage people to come for sixth year.

“We are not refusing our education, we are simply asking to be treated with the respect we deserve. We have, in the main, worked hard for five years so surely we deserve a less stressful year.

“By taking away any freedom to relax or study, the school is making us study five more subjects to leave school with.

“I’m not asking for the opportunity to be sitting in a common room six periods a day but I am asking that the school recognise what is a ridiculous plan and scrap it.”

An Angus Council spokeswoman said, “As usual the timetables of the pupils entering S6 will be finalised following the exam results in the summer and will be determined by their individual needs. This is no different from previous years.

“Pupils have been asked to indicate their subject preferences at this stage and, whilst this year this does not include the option of free study time, this is not to say that study time will not be included in their individual timetables and this will depend on the demands of their subject choices.

“A wide range of subject choices is available, ranging from advanced highers to non-certificated courses aimed at developing the pupils’ practical skills, such as IT. We will be discussing this further with the pupils next week.”