Tag: curriculum

A new focus for Education Scotland

Education Scotland is, as of the first of November, now a curriculum focused organisation. Education Scotland is now centred on the design, delivery and ongoing improvement of the curriculum that is taught in schools and settings across the country.

The inspection function is being removed from Education Scotland and the process of the establishment of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in Scotland is underway.

Scotland’s education system is being reformed to improve outcomes for learners of all ages, while ensuring that those delivering education in settings, schools and colleges are better supported. A new sketchnote highlighting the national priorities in education as set out in the National Improvement Framework will soon be available. 

Graeme Logan, Interim Chief Executive of Education Scotland and His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, said: “I am honoured to be leading both Education Scotland and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) in Scotland through reform.

“As Interim CEO of Education Scotland, I am keen to continue my discussions with colleagues, stakeholders and partners on what this new curriculum focus can achieve and how it can improve support for teachers and other practitioners, and improve learning outcomes. 

“My vision is that educators will be better supported with evidence based curriculum resources and increased opportunity to contribute to our work. In HMIE, we are keen to develop new approaches to school inspections that put children and young people at the very heart.

“We have already carried out extensive engagement with our audiences – from educators, to parents and carers, and this helped inform the consultation on school inspections that was launched recently. This sharpened focus on engagement and stakeholders shaping our work is something that will be embedded in the work of HMIE. 

“The establishment of a new Advisory Council will also be an important part of this approach. I look forward to the Council being set up and the value they will bring to the work of the inspectorate. We will create an environment where educators feel heard, valued and empowered to influence and innovate – and we will shape an organisation that is adaptive, inclusive, connected to and understands the real world of Scottish education. 

“Collaboration will be central to this. We want to ensure collaboration is embedded in everything we do. For example, this will build on our recent approach to working with educators through the Curriculum Improvement Cycle.

“This will help ensure we develop the right support and resources at the right time, communicate more effectively and help develop cohesive practices across the curriculum, learning, teaching and assessment.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all the work you do and to encourage you to look out for our new approach to communications over the coming year for both Education Scotland and HMIE. We look forward to working closely with you as the reform continues at pace, and we move in to our new ways of working.”

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “HMIE’s establishment and the refocusing of Education Scotland are key components of our education reform agenda, enabling them to support our education settings to deliver improved outcomes for children and young people across Scotland.

“The new inspectorate will help increase confidence in inspections and the role it has in driving improvement, while Education Scotland becoming a more curriculum orientated organisation will only serve to better support educators improve the quality of learning our children and young people receive.

“I want to thank Education Scotland and HMIE staff for their work to support the delivery of education throughout this reform process. The incoming changes will better support our educators and, in turn, benefit those in education of all ages across Scotland.”

See the latest news from Education Scotland or follow @EducationScot on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

See the latest news from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in Scotland or follow @hmiescotland on X and Facebook.

Education Scotland recognises ‘outstanding’ curriculum at Fettes College

Fettes students “benefit from a broad and balanced curriculum that is outstanding” says Education Scotland’s recent inspection of Fettes College. The unscheduled inspection was instructed by Scottish Ministers in February, and the findings were published yesterday (2nd September).

Inspectors awarded Fettes excellent ratings in both ‘Curriculum’ and ‘Raising attainment and achievement’, alongside very good ratings in ‘Learning, teaching and assessment’ and ‘Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion’.

Inspectors rightly demand the highest standards, and their report highlights the distinctive strengths of a Fettes education, noting:

  • Staff have “successfully created a curriculum that supports children and young people to flourish in their academic and personal interests.” and “ensure the curriculum is strongly underpinned by an aspirational vision with a clear focus on academic excellence, building character and supporting personal wellbeing.”
  • Staff “foster very nurturing and mutually respectful relationships” and are “highly responsive to the wellbeing needs of children and young people”.
  • Students are “highly motivated to succeed”, producing work “of an exceptionally high standard” and making “excellent progress” in their learning.
  • Extensive opportunities for students to achieve beyond the classroom, helping them to “know themselves well” and aspire to reach their full potential.
  • A culture where students, staff and families “celebrate their own and others’ cultural diversity” and observe religious and cultural events together “in an inclusive, respectful way”.
  • Staff ‘recognise the need to ensure fairness and equality and to identify and mitigate against discrimination and bias in all aspects of the school’s work’.

This is testament to the exceptional work of the team at Fettes, which showed inspectors the values at the heart of the school community — academic ambition, character development, personal wellbeing, and a deeply inclusive culture where every individual is valued.

Head of Fettes College, Helen Harrison, said, “I am immensely proud of everyone at Fettes College – Senior and Prep – and extend my thanks to them all for their commitment and contribution to this fantastic achievement.

“We had a team of inspectors in our school for two weeks and they looked at everything. Their findings, published today about the learning and experience that happens in our classrooms and around our school sets us amongst those at the top of education in Scotland.”

The results of the inspection were published on 2nd September 2025 on the Education Scotland website: https://education.gov.scot/.

New Schools Fund to expand film and screen education across Scotland

Work to embed film and screen education within the Scottish schools’ curriculum took a step forward today with the launch of new funding from Screen Scotland. 

Available to early years, primary and secondary schools, the new Schools Screen Education Fund has been created to support programmes of work with the potential to develop increased understanding of the potential of screen education and support the provision of screen education and the new curriculum in a school setting.   

Schools can apply for grants up to £5000 to test an element of the draft Film and Screen curriculum with classes from Early Years to S3, or to design and deliver screen education projects for schools. 

Also going live today, is Screen Scotland’s refreshed Screen Education Fund which offers grants of between £500 – £20,000 to projects that support the provision of screen education in a variety of formal, informal and non-formal settings – schools, colleges, universities, cinemas, film festivals, libraries, media access centres and Local Authorities – aimed at developing increased understanding of the potential of screen education. 

Fi Milligan-Rennie, Head of Education – Screen at Screen Scotland said: “Developing Film and Screen as an expressive art focuses on enabling pupils to make a film, rather than solely study the history or theory of film.

“This is core to Screen Scotland’s work to widen participation in film and screen production, cultivate a skilled screen workforce and develop the screen professionals needed to carry forward Scotland’s film culture.

“At the same time, the values and benefits of film and screen education reach far beyond careers.  Engagement in film and screen activity strengthens fusion skills, supports attainment in other subjects and improves health and wellbeing.  Film and Screen is the dominant language of our culture and Screen Scotland is committed to ensuring the democracy of opportunity to learn that language.” 

The launch took place in tandem with Screen Scotland’s Screen Educators in Residence Programme. Over the past months, Screen Educators have been deep at work in primary and secondary schools in Argyll and Bute, Dundee, Edinburgh, Inverness and Shetland, testing the draft curriculum; trialling new learning and hands-on opportunities to develop students understanding, appreciation and practical knowledge of film and screen production.  

Welcomed by Scotland’s Educators, independent production companies and Scottish screen stars like Outlander’s Sam Heughan, the ultimate aim of the two-year pilot programme is to introduce film and screen within the Scottish curriculum from Early Years through to Senior Phase.

Full details about the Funds and how to apply are available on the Screen Scotland website: https://www.screen.scot/funding-and-support/funding/screen-education-fund 

Scotland rolls out LGBT inclusive education across curriculum

Scotland has become the first country in the world to embed lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) inclusive education across the school curriculum.

Focused on promoting equality, reducing bullying and improving the educational experiences of LGBT children and young people, subjects across age groups will now include LGBT identities, issues and history.

Support to help schools deliver this includes:

  • a website where school staff, parents, carers, children and young people can access information to support LGBT children and young people
  • a basic awareness e-learning course for education staff on LGBT inclusive education
  • a toolkit of LGBT inclusive education teaching resources 

Parents, teachers, young people and LGBT organisations helped to develop the website, e-learning course and teaching resources.

Children’s Minister Clare Haughey said: “I am proud to say that Scotland is leading the way as the first country in the world to embed LGBT inclusive education right across the curriculum. By doing so, we can help young people to reach their full potential and flourish in a diverse and inclusive society.

“The launch of this ground-breaking suite of resources for schools takes us another step forward in ensuring that our curriculum is as diverse as the young people who learn in our schools.

“The Scottish Government, in partnership with COSLA, is determined to provide a fully inclusive education for Scotland’s children and young people.”

COSLA Children and Young People Spokesperson Cllr Stephen McCabe said: “Improving inclusion in our schools is a priority for Local Government. We welcome the materials published today, which will assist schools, teachers and education staff to drive this important agenda forward, ensuring all children and young people receive the support they need.”

Time for Inclusive Education co-founder Jordan Daly said: “I experienced bullying and prejudice at school for being gay, and it had a detrimental impact on my confidence and wellbeing for some time.

“This new website, and the supporting resources, which have been co-developed with teachers across Scotland, will support teachers to take a proactive, educational approach to tackling prejudice. Most importantly, this work will empower young people and provide them with an opportunity I didn’t have at school – to feel valued, confident, and proud of who they are.”

National Parent Forum of Scotland Chair Margaret Wilson said: “We welcome the roll-out of LGBT inclusive education across the school curriculum.

“With other stakeholders, we have developed an information resource on LGBT inclusive education for parents and carers to help them to support their children and ensure they have a positive educational experience, using an approach underpinned by children’s rights, kindness and respect.”

The new website is here: www.lgbteducation.scot