Baccalaureates fail to set the heather alight

Designed to promote key subjects including science and languages, in 2012 the scheme grew to cover expressive arts and social sciences.

Yet in 2014, the number of pupils sitting Scottish Baccalaureate exams fell almost eight per cent to 176 from 191 last year, according to figures from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

Only three candidates sat the expressive arts Baccalaureate this year, down from five in 2013, and 15 entered the social sciences qualification.

The languages Baccalaureate had a 50 per cent fall in entries from 32 to 22, while those studying social sciences fell less sharply, to 136 from 142.

Alan McKenzie, acting general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, said schools had always been suspicious of the rationale behind the qualification, viewing them largely as politically motivated for the image of the SNP government.