A UNIVERSITY professor claims that a proposal to close Queen Anne High School’s business department is “ill-conceived”. 

Robin Roslender, chair in Accounting and Finance at the University of Dundee School of Business, stressed that in an information-driven era, subjects such as business were “vital” to the future economic prosperity of the locality, region and country.

The issue has been highlighted by the Press since S5 pupil Nicole Sloanes started a petition in November to help reverse a decision that could see the department scrapped due to budget cuts by Fife Council. 

Mr Roslender, whose daughter also studied business at Queen Anne, said: “What is it that the rector wants her pupils to become? Does she just want them to have jobs in Asda or does she want them to have high-paying jobs? 

“In this day and age, the opportunities from business and management are only going to increase," he suggested. 

“My daughter’s friend has a degree from St Andrews and a masters but she is struggling to make a living on a scientist’s wage. 

“People seem to think doing these subjects will be great but if you study HR, management or finance, the wages are high and it can take you all over the world.

“So, what are Queen Anne’s priorities?”

The decision would mean pupils just like Nicole will be losing out on qualifications such as Business Management, Administration & IT, Financial Services and Travel and Tourism and the petition has attracted 1,403 signatures. 

Past students who are now lawyers, accountants and academics have all supported the petition and credit studying these subjects as having a big hand in kick-starting their careers. 

Mr Roslender is also a Research Professor at Aalborg University in Denmark.

He added: “The students are very creative and entrepreneurial. They get stuck in doing internships and case work and it shows because Denmark is far ahead of Scotland in its economy. 

“I think there can be a slight snobbery about studying science and maths over business here but that’s not the case in the Scandinavian countries. 

“We need to live in the 21st century.

“I find any suggestion that the rector is even considering denying pupils similar opportunities in this subject area devoid of any credibility.”

Philip Black, Fife Council’s head of education and children services, said: “At this stage in the session, all our schools are beginning to plan for the curriculum on offer for next session.

“This is a very detailed process to support young people and their parents/carers to make key decisions about course choice. 

“This consultation process is about to begin in Queen Anne and will provide the school with an indicative level of interest in each course, which can vary from year to year.

“After this consultation, the school will plan a curriculum based on pupil choice and viability of courses on offer.

“Final decisions about the curriculum on offer in Queen Anne will not be made before the end of January.”