Education Scotland…designed to propel the performance of our education system from good to great

Bill Maxwell, transitional CEO

The 3-step Improvement Framework

1 changing the world

2 creating the conditions

3making the improvement

step 1 - changing the world

• Curriculum for Excellence set out high level vision and purpose of education

• Product of broad national debate – strong engagement, consensus and ownership

• Theory of reform derived from best international evidence – OECD, research – strategy specifically appropriate for a ‘good’

system striving for ‘excellence’

excellentoutcomes

forlearners

excellentoutcomes

forlearners

Steer from the top

Build from the bottom

supportpr

essu

re

…from the sides

after Hargreaves & Shirley, 2011

step 2 – creating the conditions

• Teacher workforce reform – raising level of professionalism and leadership

• Replacement of previous framework of curriculum and assessment with less prescriptive, outcome-focused guidance

• Broad engagement in programme to develop curriculum and assessment framework – phased implementation

• Reform of inspection and use of data/targets

• High professional trust and autonomy combined with

• High professional responsibility for improvement and for demonstrating outcomes

• Enabled through carefully balanced and coherent national support & pressure which is:– focused on enhancing professionalism and leadership– providing the infrastructure for a ‘learning system’– actively gathering intelligence and sampling provision– promoting benchmarking amongst providers– intervening proportionately where necessary

step 3 - executing the change

The aim: a ‘learning’ education system that generates and spreads excellence and innovation

local interpretation, innovation & development

broad national guidance

Better outcomes

for learners

applied and developed in

practice

evaluated through action research and

inspection

most successful

practice identified

knowledge spread in

accessible formats

external research & intelligence

A new style of integrated improvement agency designed to provide a balance of support and pressure in coherent and flexible ways

Inspection/review and evaluation at all levels

Promotion of

self-evaluation

and

improvement

Informing policy with evidence and advice

Providing guidance

and support for

curriculum/assess

implementation

Promoting practice and leadership development

Identifying,

promoting and

sharing innovation

Education Scotland – remit and purpose:

Education Scotland – providing carefully balanced support and challenge to promote and support a ‘learning system’ across Scotland

local interpretation, innovation & development

broad national guidance

Better outcomes

for learners

applied and developed in

practice

evaluated through action research and

inspection

most successful

practice identified

knowledge spread in

accessible formats

external research & intelligence