SCHOOLS which are only a few miles apart are offering pupils a vastly different number of subjects to study at Higher, new research shows.
Figures collected by the Scottish Conservatives reveal that some schools offer as many as 27 subjects while others run as few as 13.
Liz Smith, education spokeswoman for the Scottish Conservatives blamed teacher shortages for the disparity.
She said: “There will always be some understandable variation in subject choice depending on the size of school and its location.
“But parents will be alarmed to see the extent of the variation in some local authorities, particularly between similar types of schools.”
However, local authority umbrella body Cosla argued the survey was misleading because it ignored the fact pupils often travel to neighbouring schools to increase their options at Higher.
A spokesman said: “Councils have actively promoted this innovation to maximise opportunities for pupils despite severe financial pressures.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said the curriculum gave schools flexibility to offer different subject choices to meet the needs of pupils, but also stressed the importance of teacher recruitment.
She added: “To give all our young people the best opportunity we need to have the right number of skilled teachers in our schools.”
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) teaching union said the widest variations should be looked at.
A spokeswoman said: “It is clear schools are responding to the needs and interests of their own pupils which means options will vary within
local authorities.
“Although slight differences should be expected, the size of some of these differences in certain local authorities may require further investigation.”
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