A Fife school pupil has launched a petition in a bid to save her school’s business education department from the axe.
More than 1,300 people have signed the online poll posted by Nicole Sloanes, who fears budget cuts could spell the removal of the entire department at Queen Anne High in Dunfermline.
While the school has said a final decision on the curriculum will not be taken until January, Nicole and other pupils fear subjects including business management, administration and financial services will be dropped.
In her petition on the Change.org website, the teenager said youngsters would lose out if the cut went ahead given that Queen Anne was one of the only schools in Scotland to offer a financial services qualification.
MYSP Bailey-Lee Robb, youth representative on Fife’s education and children’s services committee, is supporting the pupils in their opposition.
“This is a department that is highly reputable across Fife and, indeed, Scotland,” he said.
“While we all know the true reality of local government cuts, this should not begin with our young people’s education, especially with talks about erasing a whole department.
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“The best decision that can be made is to take this proposition off the table to give pupils, parents and carers the reassurance they need, especially with course selection just around the corner.
“I would call on the senior management team to engage with pupils as quickly and effectively as possible, ensuring their views are heard loud and clear.”
Conservative councillor Kathleen Leslie said she had been horrified to learn the department was under threat.
“I fully support the efforts being made by Bailey-Lee and other pupils to keep the department open. Fife Council must listen to their voices,” she said.
Philip Black, head of education and children’s services, said all schools were beginning to plan for the curriculum on offer for next session.
“This is a very detailed process to support young people and their parents/carers to make key decisions about course choice,” he said.
“This consultation process is about to begin in Queen Anne and will provide the school with an indicative level of interest in each course, which can vary from year to year.
“After this consultation the school will plan a curriculum based on pupil choice and viability of courses on offer.
“Final decisions about the curriculum on offer in Queen Anne will not be made before the end of January.”
