Education - achieving excellence and equity: National Improvement Framework 2025

Introduction

Ministers and local authorities share statutory responsibilities for education, as well as the wider wellbeing of children, young people, and families which are intertwined and longstanding.

Ministers set the strategic objectives for the education system and local authorities have responsibility for the provision of effective education for their area. The Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Act 2000 (as amended by the Education (Scotland) Act 2016) requires Scottish Ministers to produce a National Improvement Framework (NIF) for Scottish education, to be published and reviewed annually, to support delivery of a duty on Ministers and local authorities to secure improvement in the quality of school education, and to reduce the poverty-related attainment gap.

These areas of shared responsibility make it essential that national and local government work together, with a collective responsibility to improve educational outcomes. That is why the Programme for Government in September 2024 committed the Scottish Government to work in partnership with local authorities and wider children’s services to improve attendance, attainment and the curriculum in schools to boost standards.

There is a clear role for a refocused Education Scotland looking at curriculum design, delivery and improvement, including the provision of resources to support high quality learning and teaching, support a national framework for professional learning and build on national leadership programmes. It will also work with local authorities to inform approaches to wellbeing, inclusion, behaviour and enabling better support for those with additional support needs.

The 2025 NIF is informed by discussions with stakeholders, including local government, headteachers, professional associations, and young people. It has been developed in consultation with COSLA and the Association of Directors of Education (ADES) and the outcomes and aspirations reflect those in the ADES framework for improvement which was published on 11 November. It also draws on the findings of the recent independent reviews of Scottish education to enable more effective long-term planning for improvement by the Scottish Government and local authorities. It takes account of the National Discussion on Scottish education, which was co-convened by the Scottish Government and COSLA.

Local authorities and schools should take account of the NIF and the national plan, when developing their own improvement plans.