I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the work of the MSA over the past year as well as to those people who have worked alongside the MSA to promote and enhance the subject within the Scottish education system. In particular, I would like to thank the National Committee. Not only do they religiously turn up on 5 Saturdays a year but put in a tremendous amount of work in their own time. They never complain and it is all carried out with good humour. This year Eddy Cornock was persuaded to take on the job of vice chairperson and for this I am forever grateful. He is a stalwart and has seen us through thick and thin. This year at our away day meeting he was presented with a Cilla award (MSA paperweight) for playing such a crucial part in the development of Modern Studies over the years. David Fyfe continues to work tirelessly with the website. We have a new site which is running alongside the old one. Melanie Shepley, as secretary, and Jayne Ashley, as treasurer, have both played a pivotal role in the association – mostly keeping me right! At this point I would like to show my appreciation to Fiona James who was our treasurer for many years. Fiona's expanding family has meant that she now has other more pressing priorities. The accounts are in a healthy position and that is partly due to Fiona's astute book-keeping. All regular attendees have taken responsibility for some important area that helps promote and enhance Modern Studies. The work they do is fantastic and I very much appreciate it. Thanks team!

We are always delighted to welcome new members so if you are interested in becoming involved in the work of the MSA, then speak to any of the national committee members.

Contacts with educational organisations

HMIe

The new subject specialist HMIe is David Gregory. He attended a recent committee meeting and gave us updates on issues like Curriculum for Excellence. We look forward to working closely with David.

SQA

SQA, through the Qualifications Manager, Larry Cheyne and Qualifications Officer, Veronica Curran, continues to work closely with the MSA. We appreciate this very much.

BBC and Channel 4

The MSA continues to support the BBC and Channel 4 in their efforts to develop quality TV and online resources for classroom teaching. Donald Gunn, from the BBC, is a staunch supporter of the subject and Modern Studies continues to play a crucial role in the BBC schedules. Anne Fleck, education officer for Channel 4, retired at the end of October. We wish her every success in her life after Channel 4.

Learning Teaching Scotland

The Social Subjects Citizenship Liaison Group continues to operate and we are represented on that group. Several members of the national committee have produced materials for the revised Higher.

Services for members

MSA conference and AGM

The 2006 conference is, once again, to be hosted by the Division of Social Studies Education at the University of Strathclyde. Special thanks to both Henry Maitles and Vincent Oates for the help in setting up the conference. With the highest number of pre-registered delegates, the annual conference is once again confirmed as a key CPD event for teachers of Modern Studies. The conference has been made possible only by the very hard work of the conference committee under the able leadership of Melanie Shepley. Thanks to both Alison Craig and Guch Dhillon. The AGM is held during the conference and all members are very welcome to attend.

MSA Website

We have a new website address: www.msa-scotland.co.uk

This makes it easier for us to upload teaching materials for you to use. The national committee contribute materials to the resources site but we really do need you to contribute your materials as well. In this way we can all benefit from the excellent materials I see out there in your departments. Please send an electronic version of your materials via the link on the website. David Fyfe has worked tirelessly on the website and it would be so good if we all contributed and made his efforts worthwhile.

Yearbook, MOST and MSA News

The Yearbook, MOST and the MSA NEWS are now sent electronically to members unless you have requested otherwise. In this way you can have the resources in a more useable form and we save on postage. Plea: please send us an email address that you use so we can send you materials directly. There is a space on the renewal postcard for you to inform us of your email address.

Eddy Cornock is Mister Yearbook and MOST. He, single-handedly, ensures that these 2 flagship publications reach your desk twice a year. Many thanks, Eddy. David Fyfe and Alison Craig edit and produce the newsletter but they do need your articles if the publication is to be worthwhile. The September newsletter did not go to press because there were not enough articles submitted.

Study tours

This year saw the introduction of an innovation for the MSA – a study tour to the People's Republic of China. Twenty two of us headed to Beijing at the end of June for 3 weeks in China. We were hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and were billed as a government group. We were treated exceptionally well and experienced such fascinating sessions as a very open and honest discussion with the deputy director of the National Population and Family Planning Commission. The tour was very informative and it opened our minds to what actually goes on in China. It was also very good craik! We have produced some fact sheets that are on the website and a series of photos that might be useful if you teach about China. Special thanks to Janice Dickson from Ian Dickson Travel (Edinburgh) whose expertise on all things Chinese ensured that we all survived.

Our next venture is Kenya in summer 2008. Please e-mail me if you are at all interested.

Membership and Finance

Our finances continue to be in a healthy state. See financial statement. We continue to explore ways in which we can use our funds to the benefit of our members. Please let us know if you have any suggestions. Jayne Ashley has kept a firm hand on the accounts this year and I thank her for her sterling efforts. Membership has been disappointing this year. There are still many Modern Studies teachers who are not members of the association and an increasingly large number who need constant reminders to rejoin. The membership year runs from January to December and the cost is £20 (students free). We are investigating the possibility of returning to direct debit. Please pay your fee on time and encourage all other Modern Studies teachers to join! Without our membership, we would cease to exist!

Modern Studies Educational Trust (MSET)

As in previous years, MSET awards for excellence are made at the conference. Awards go to the top candidates in Advanced Higher and Higher. Our thanks go to the sponsors of these awards: Pulse Publications and Mr and Mrs Clements. Without the support of SQA we could not make these awards. We have secured an new sponsor for the S1/2 human rights competition: Hodder Gibson. Many thanks to MD, John Mitchell for supporting the MSA. Without the continued support from Cruden Foundation Limited, we would not be able to provide the opportunities that we do.

Branches

Tayside branch continues to be very active running Higher and Advanced higher conferences as well as competitions for pupils in S1 to S4. The Lothian branch meets regularly in a local hostelry to discuss pertinent Modern Studies issues.

Retirals The baby boomer Modern Studies teachers are now reaching retirement age. The MSA would like to wish all of these teachers the very best in their retirement and thank them for the continued support throughout the last 34 years. Such stalwarts as Stan Da Prato, John Miller, Innes Milne and Ronnie Kaplan all retired at the summer. You can remain a member of the association ….for just £20 a year!

Archives

It would be a real benefit to the MSA if someone would volunteer to collect and organise all archived materials. We have gaps in our files. If anyone would like to volunteer to take on this job, please let me know.

Conclusion

I would like to thank the lifeblood of the MSA, the membership, for their continued commitment to the subject. We all do indeed promote and enhance Modern Studies.

This report contains only a taster for the work that we do. If you would like any more information, please contact me, Irene Morrison;