Schools - Regional Improvement Collaboratives: review

Note on context

This review was due to take place in spring 2020 but was paused due to the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic. The review was paused and re-started running from spring through to autumn 2021. Schools had been through significant periods of change, stress and restrictions, and the Covid-19 pandemic continued to have a major impact on schools at the time of fieldwork.

The review also took place during a time of education reform in Scotland. In 2020, the OECD began an assessment into the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence in primary and secondary schools, exploring progress made since 2015. The report was published in June 2021, and the Cabinet Secretary for Education announced the intention to:

• replace the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and consider a new specialist agency for both curriculum and assessment
• take forward reform of Education Scotland including removing the function of inspection from the agency.

This work was taken forward through an expert panel and advisory group, informed by a national consultation in autumn 2021 inviting everyone interested in the future of Scottish education and a dedicated consultation with children and young people.