Education Scotland and the Scottish Qualifications Authority: consultation

Foreword

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)^[1] report of June 2021^[2] notes that engagement lies at the heart of Curriculum for Excellence and that the voices of young people, parents, teachers, lecturers and leaders, as well as other stakeholders, should be at the centre of education policy development. Therefore, this consultation is an open invitation for all who have an interest in Scottish education to engage in helping set the direction of travel for the future of Scottish education. It seeks your views and ideas on how we can build on the strengths we have developed in Scottish education and address some of the recommendations and questions raised in both the June OECD report and the August OECD report on student assessment^[3].

Both OECD reports cover wide areas of Scottish education and impact on the work of many practitioners and stakeholders in many contexts. This consultation is not an attempt to survey all of the areas covered by the two OECD reports. Its main focus is on the ownership of Curriculum for Excellence; how we address the issues around roles and responsibilities for curriculum and assessment; and how we address the "misalignment" between the Broad General Education^[4] and the Senior Phase^[5] identified by the OECD. It also gives you the opportunity to make suggestions from your particular perspective on the changes you think are necessary to enhance the experiences and outcomes of current and future learners.

Any transition to introducing change needs to ensure a continuation of high-quality education for all learners while those changes are made. That is why this consultation invites your views on the risks relating to any change and the implications of these changes on wider parts of the education system. Responses are invited from both individuals and organisations and I would very much encourage joint responses from groups of individuals who have come together to discuss this work.

Thank you for taking part in this consultation exercise. The views of all stakeholders are important so please try to complete as much of it as you can from the perspective you have, including taking the opportunity to respond to the open-ended questions that seek your ideas for improving outcomes for all learners.

Thank you,

Professor Ken Muir

University of the West of Scotland