Education

  • Full-time schooling in a pandemic – looking back at Term 1

    14th October 2020 by

    No one could doubt the challenges that lay ahead when schools opened in August. We were asked – and we asked ourselves – how could pupils possibly safely return to full-time learning in the middle of a global pandemic? Well, they could and they did. Now, with most of Scotland’s children and young people on...

    Read more

  • Message to EU national teachers

    12th October 2020 by

    I want to thank EU national teachers for their significant contribution in combating Covid-19. The emergence of the virus is one of the biggest challenges that the world has faced for generations. The decision to close schools was one of the most difficult decisions we needed to make during this crisis. I do not underestimate...

    Read more

  • Celebrating International Teachers’ Day

    5th October 2020 by

    During the Covid-19 pandemic, I have hugely valued the contribution of key workers in their roles keeping essential services operating. Teachers have played a significant part in this – when school buildings closed in March, they continued to deliver learning to pupils across Scotland in new and innovative ways. And when they re-opened in August,...

    Read more

  • Black History in Scotland’s Curriculum

    14th July 2020 by

    Deputy First Minister John Swinney The Scottish Government stands in solidarity with the world-wide anti-racism movement. Education has a key role to play in building a society which actively challenges racism, eliminates racial discrimination and advances equality. I have received many items of correspondence asking that more is done to ensure social inequality, racism and...

    Read more

  • Contact details for all social care departments in Scotland

    14th May 2020 by

    We all have a role to play in keeping Scotland’s children safe from abuse and neglect during the Covid-19 pandemic. If you have any concerns that a child may be at risk of harm please contact your local social work department. If you think a child is in immediate danger please call Police Scotland on...

    Read more

  • Ensuring Scotland’s universities remain at the heart of Covid-19 recovery

    11th May 2020 by

    Richard Lochhead, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science Scotland’s universities and their research are considered to be among the very best in the world. Indeed for centuries, they have been acclaimed for genuinely ground-breaking discoveries across a raft of key areas, from medicine to engineering, economics to science, the environment, business and industry....

    Read more

  • Rising to the challenge of educational equity: How is Scotland doing?

    25th February 2020 by

    Guest Blog from Professor Chris Chapman, Senior Academic Advisor, Scottish Attainment Challenge Director, Policy Scotland, University of Glasgow Breaking the steadfast link between poverty and educational attainment is a wicked issue that has arguably become the singularly most important issue for education systems around the world. In February 2015 The Times Educational Supplement Scotland reported...

    Read more

  • Five years on with the Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC) funding and what has changed?

    24th February 2020 by

    Guest Blog from Carrie Lindsay, ADES President                                      The introduction of funding that allowed a focus for investment on targeting the poverty-related attainment gap was a very welcome addition for Scottish education authorities. The three types of funding;...

    Read more

  • Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Innovation Awards – Guest Blog from Children’s Minister Maree Todd

    6th January 2020 by

    I often tell people that I have the best job in government, and I sincerely believe that I do. I can’t think of anything more important than trying to improve the life chances of our children and young people, and it’s something that I, along with the thousands of people working in the early learning...

    Read more

  • Down on the farm – guest blog from Royal Highland Education Trust

    24th December 2019 by

    The Royal Highland Trust works year-round to create opportunities for children and young people to visit farms as part of their sustainable learning

    Guest blog from Sara Smith, Learning and Development Co-ordinator at the Royal Highland Education Trust Throughout the year, come rain or shine, farmers open their gates to provide young people with the opportunity to find out about food production. The charity The Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) works with farmers and growers across Scotland to...

    Read more