The Donaldson review and Scottish Baccalaureates – a model for implementation in schools

In January 2011, a review about teacher education in Scotland included 50 recommendations designed to improve the learning of young people in Scotland. A feature of the recommendations was enhancement of teacher education via new national initiatives and strengthened partnerships between schools, local authorities and universities. The Scottish Baccalaureate is a new national initiative that could be used as a method for implementing recommendations made by Donaldson. The aim of this report is to describe a model of learning and teaching involving the Baccalaureate in Science that demonstrates how 14 Interdisciplinary Projects could be managed within a semi-rural secondary school and, through a ‘whole-school’ approach, be used to enhance pupil learning and teacher education while encouraging partnerships between the school and outside agencies. While this model addresses recommendations made by Donaldson, it also embraces the essential elements of Curriculum for Excellence.