SATH Partnerships

One of the benefits of being a member of SATH is the extensive network of partnerships which has been built up over many years. These range from bodies and organisations within Scotland to those furth of that country.

The Association has very positive relations with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) and the Scottish Executive Education Department (SEED). The Association is formally consulted on all official matters relating to the teaching of History in secondary schools. Additionally, speakers from both have attended SATH conferences and have participated in lively debates as to the future role of History teaching in Scotland. Such speakers have included Mr L. MacCallum, HMIE and Mr E Robson, deputy minister for education and young people.

The Association's relations with the national award bearing organisation in Scotland, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) are also very positive. Several SATH members are employed in various roles within the SQA and our annual survey of the national examinations plays an important role in the quality assurance programme of the SQA.

Other partnerships have been developed with various heritage organisations, particularly Historic Scotland. At present, the Association is putting together a joint project with Historic Scotland concerning the use of the built environment, especially castles, as part of a European wide initiative.

The Association also maintains cordial links with both SAGT (Scottish Association of Geography Teachers) and the MSA (Modern Studies Association). Matters of common concern to all three social subject teachers, like citizenship, are addressed on a co-operative basis. Publishers, too, value highly the work of the Association in presenting critical reviews of their latest works via the Resources Review and the Year Book. Many comments by SATH reviewers now appear in the publicity flyers from the major publishing houses.

SATH is also an active member of EUROCLIO (the permanent standing conference of European History teachers' associations). Several SATH members have attended the annual European conference of Euroclio and some have acted as deliverers of in-service programmes, especially in the new emerging countries of the former soviet bloc.

The Association is also consulted when vacancies arise on national bodies. Currently, SATH is represented on the Scottish Records Advisory Council, the SCAN and SCRAN projects as well as ad hoc membership of projects like the Scottish Archives for Schools project recently completed under the auspices of the National Archives of Scotland and Learning and Teaching Scotland.

SATH also has good relations with Learning and Teaching Scotland and several projects have benefited from SATH input, such as the project on Gathering and Interpreting Evidence in social subjects, 5-14. Additionally, the Association's voice is heard on the broadcasting council of the BBC where History programmes are commissioned.

The Association also works well with private companies, an example being our collaboration with the WarkClements television company. Thus, the Association works hard at many levels in establishing partnerships with interested bodies that are interested in the teaching of History in Scotland's schools today.