Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

Scotland (Šotimaa) Aberdeen Kirriemuir Edinburgh (capital) Glasgow

Kirriemuir Population ~7000 JM Barrie 1860 - 1937 Bon Scott 1946 - 1980

Famous Scottish Scientists John Logie Baird (1888 – 1946) Alexander Graham Bell (1847 – 1922) Alexander Fleming (1881 – 1955)

Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Results 2012. Rankings based at age 15.

13th May 2015

British Prime Minister during World War II Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965) Winston Churchill British Prime Minister during World War II

“We fund British citizens, resident in the UK, to travel overseas to study areas of topical and personal interest, to gain knowledge and bring back best practice for the benefit of others, their profession and community, in the UK.” Categories funded include: Education, Crafts and Makers, Science/Technology and Innovation, Young People.

Finland – Helsinki (May 2014) Week 1 Helsinki School of Natural Sciences (Upper Secondary School: Age 16-19) Week 2 Kulosaari – bilingual school. Subjects taught in either Finnish or English. (Lower secondary and Upper secondary: Age 13-19)

Estonia - Tallinn Week 3 Reaalkool Science School. (Age 7-19) Week 4 Viimsi School (Age 7-19)

1. Education Structure 2. Curriculum 3. Learning and Teaching 4 1. Education Structure 2. Curriculum 3. Learning and Teaching 4. Other Factors?

1. Education Structure Finland and Estonia

Education Structure in Scotland Age: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

In Helsinki and Tallinn there are schools which specialise in science education. In Scotland there are no schools which specialise in science education currently. Helsinki School of Natural Sciences (Upper Secondary School: Age 16-19) Pupils attend from all over Helsinki and further afield. Tallinn Secondary School of Science Selective school. One of the highest achieving schools in Estonia. (Age 7-19)

There are two main types of school in Scotland: State school – free education to all. Independent “private” school – Fee paying schools (sometimes selective) Webster’s High School – where I teach. Glenalmond College (Perthshire, Scotland ~ £25000 (34000 Euros) per year.

In Finland and Estonia the main National exams come at the end of year 12 – when the pupils are aged 18/19. The exams cover the work pupils have covered during upper secondary school from 16-18 years of age. In Scotland pupils sit national exams at the end of each year in the Senior Phase. Age: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

University entrance exams are common in Finland and are becoming increasingly common in Estonia. In Scotland, University entrance exams are only really used for popular courses such as medicine. Most University places are given on a pupils educational achievement at school.

2. Curriculum The Finnish and Estonian school curricula is extremely broad through to 18/19 years of age. All pupils must take compulsory modules in all subjects and learn “core” knowledge. Therefore pupils have to take science subjects to the end of upper secondary school. This is not the case in Scotland: Age: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

The content covered in the Finnish and Estonian science curriculum is similar to that covered in the Scottish curriculum. Estonian Year 8 chemistry textbook (for children aged ~14/15).

3. Learning and Teaching In most cases science teachers in Finland and Estonia have a Master’s degree in their subject area and complete a teacher training course. In Scotland all science teachers must have a relevant science degree and have completed a teachers training course to teach in a state school. However, in an independent school it is not essential to have completed a teacher training course. The methods of teaching I observed in Finland/Estonia were similar to the methods we use in Scotland. In four weeks I didn’t see any teaching methods which made me think “we don’t do that”.

10-15 minute breaks between lessons in Finland/Estonia 10-15 minute breaks between lessons in Finland/Estonia. Finnish and Estonian teachers thought this was very important. In Scotland there are no breaks between most lessons.

Good links with Universities at Viimsi and Reaalkool

4. Other Factors? Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Results 2012. Rankings based at age 15.

Involving Parents/Carers in education Finland and Estonia have computer systems that keep parents/carers regularly informed about what their child is learning at school. “Wilma” (Finland) and “ekool” or “Stuudium” (Estonia).

These computer programs allow teachers to: * input test dates/homework so parents are always informed. * Message parents and pupils (and they can message the teacher). * Share resources e.g. PowerPoints, worksheets etc with parents and pupils. * Alert for good and bad behaviour. Parents can get text messages to alert them. Finnish/Estonian teachers and pupils talked highly of the computer systems. In Scotland we do not have anything as good as this!

The Language Issue in Finland and Estonia: Throughout my school visits I was continually impressed with the language skills of pupils. All senior pupils I met could speak a minimum of two languages fluently. Some could speak three languages and a few even four by the time they were 18. Children start to learn English formally at school at ~ 9 years old. I could have conversations (in English) with Finnish and Estonian children who were only 11 years old! This cannot be explained purely by “good teaching”.

Children watch many T. V. programmes in English Children watch many T.V. programmes in English. They do not dub films/programmes in Finland or Estonia. They have subtitles. They are immersed in the English language from a very young age. Do Finnish and Estonian children have a “natural advantage” over most UK children who speak only English? Do languages have a knock-on-effect to other subjects such as science?

What I have done since my last visit in May 2014 Spoken to many Scottish teachers/headteachers Sent my report to science organisations in the UK and Members of Parliament Spoken at various conferences Written articles about my experiences

What lessons I would like to see Scotland learn from Finland/Estonia Scotland to have its own version of “eKool” Scotland to have 10/15 minute breaks between lessons Scotland to make science subjects compulsory rather than optional past the age of 15. All senior Scottish pupils to undertake a research project similar to what Estonian pupils do.

Acknowledgements Mr Summers (Webster’s High School) Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and Mercers’ Company Schools Helsinki School of Natural Sciences Kulosaari Reaalkool Viimsi Ms Ülle Kikas The organisers of this conference