Accessing social work training in Scotland from sub-degree level further education

Scotland is a nation of some 5 million people, historically distinct from the other countries which form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Since the union of the English and Welsh Parliament with the Scottish Parliament in 1707, Scotland has been an integral part of Britain (all of the opposition parties currently favour some form of devolved government in Scotland). However, the key institutions of law, education and the Church of Scotland were already well-established and secured privileged status in the Act of Union. As a result, the Scottish education system has many different features from the system operating elsewhere in the UK, and one of these - a more unified approach to the curriculum in schools and further education (community colleges) - has had some important implications for development in student access to social work training in universities and other higher education institutions.