Education: National Improvement Framework and improvement plan 2024

Introduction, vision, and key priorities

Introduction

Background

The 2024 National Improvement Framework (NIF) and Improvement Plan replaces last year’s NIF and Improvement Plan. Together with the National Improvement Framework Interactive Evidence Report, the NIF has improved the availability, quality and consistency of national data, and extended understanding of what works to drive improvements for children and young people across all parts of the Scottish education system.

It sets out the vision and priorities for Scottish education, and the national improvement activity that needs to be undertaken to help deliver those key priorities. That information can then be used to support and inform improvement planning at regional, local authority and establishment level.

Statutory review

Scottish Ministers have a statutory duty, introduced by the Education (Scotland) Act 2016, to review the NIF and publish a plan on an annual basis. As part of the review, we provide education authorities, ELC practitioners, teachers, young people, and parents with the opportunity to express their views, and these have been taken into account in the drafting of this year’s NIF and Improvement Plan.

As a result of last year’s review, we amended the vision statement to recognise the need for sustainability to be a core aspect of the learning experience, in line with the findings in Professor Ken Muir’s Report, Putting learners at the centre: towards a future vision for Scottish education. Following this year’s review, we have further amended the statement to focus on achievement rather than attainment, as this was seen to be more in line with the four capacities of CfE. We have also reflected the vision from the National Discussion on Education that “all learners in Scotland matter” in our overall vision for education in Scotland.

Our vision for education in Scotland

• Excellence through raising achievement and improving outcomes: ensuring that every child and young person achieves the highest standards in literacy and numeracy, as well as the values, attitudes, knowledge and skills necessary to shape a sustainable future as successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens, and effective contributors.
• Achieving equity: ensuring every child and young person has the same opportunity to succeed, no matter their background or shared protected characteristics, with a particular focus on closing the poverty-related attainment gap.

We need an education system which ensures that every child and young person experiences great teaching, resources, and support for joyful learning that builds their confidence and equips them to be successful and to contribute in their life, work, and world, so they know how much they matter. We will respect, protect, and fulfil the rights of every child and young person in order to ensure these are incorporated fully across the Scottish education system.

We must ensure that children and young people are at the heart of education in Scotland. The Scottish education system values collaborative partnerships that engage all learners, the people who work within and with the education system, parents, and carers to ensure that all learners in Scotland matter.

Key priorities of the National Improvement Framework

• Placing the human rights and needs of every child and young person at the centre of education
• Improvement in children and young people’s health and wellbeing
• Closing the attainment gap between the most and least disadvantaged children and young people
• Improvement in skills and sustained, positive school-leaver destinations for all young people
• Improvement in achievement, particularly in literacy and numeracy.

The drivers of improvement in the outcomes achieved by children and young people through education are:

• School and ELC leadership
• Teacher and practitioner professionalism
• Parent/carer engagement and family learning
• Curriculum and assessment
• School and ELC improvement
• Performance information