Stewarton Academy recognised for attainment in RMPS
Staff, pupils, parents and carers connected with Stewarton Academy were delighted when Religious and Moral Education Teacher, Gillian Dunsmuir, was recognised by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) for her Practitioner Enquiry in raising attainment for learners studying Higher Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies (RMPS).
Having achieved some of the best results in Scotland, the team from Stewarton Academy, led by Head Teacher John Stuart welcomed representatives from Education Scotland who visited the school to explore the reasons behind the success of the Social Subject Faculty's results in this subject and a recent Practitioner Enquiry carried out by Miss Dunsmuir, in raising attainment for Higher RMPS learners.
And that wasn’t all, just before the visit Miss Dunsmuir found out that she has been awarded Professional Recognition from the GTCS for Assessment, based on the success of her research into raising attainment for the young people from the school.
Miss Dunsmuir said: “I am incredibly proud of our young people who have been recognised for achieving some of the best results in Scotland for RMPS. I carried out a three-year Practitioner Enquiry, which formalises an alternative approach to teaching through careful planning, assessing and evaluating; with the aim of raising achievement within RMPS. I looked at new curriculum materials and strategies that work really well within our school. It was a great honour to be recognised personally by the GTCS for this work.”
RMPS at Higher level teaches our young people how religion is intertwined into our society and also how moral issues shape our culture. They address philosophical questions and study a range of religious and non-religious responses to support them to develop informed views about the world around them and to interact positively with others. Our young people learn key analysis, evaluation and critical thinking; skills that are welcomed in a number of careers including Law, Medicine, Psychology, Politics and Journalism.
Councillor Elaine Cowan, Spokesperson for Education, and Children and Young People said: “I would like to offer my congratulations to Stewarton Academy and Gillian Dunsmuir for being recognised for attainment within RMPS and of course, to our young people who achieved some of the best results in Scotland within this subject area.
“When you look at the units taken at Higher Level - namely Religious and Philosophical Questions - The Existence of God, World Religions, and Morality and Belief - War, and Morality and Justice; I, sadly, can’t think of anything more relevant or required for our times. RMPS helps teach our young people you can respectfully acknowledge and argue a point while empathising with cultural and moral differences.”