Teachers should be at the heart of education reform

A new paper from the University of Glasgow, which looks at how Scotland’s education system can make a real and long-lasting difference in schools, has said that schools and teachers should be at the centre of education reform.

In the paper, Professors Chris Chapman and Graham Donaldson argue that Scotland needs to simplify its approach, giving greater clarity about how we educate our children and young people in an increasingly complex world.

Professor Chapman said: “These are challenging times for Scottish education, not least because of the reform agenda and its implications for our children and young people. As academics working in issues of educational change, improvement and innovation across the globe, combined with a strong commitment to improving education, we are convinced that there is an urgent need for radical thinking about how best to support all of Scotland’s young people to learn and flourish in an increasingly challenging environment.”

Professor Donaldson added: “‘Leading from the Classroom’ builds on the conversations, thinking and actions that we argued in our 2023 paper must happen if Scotland's education system is one that can truly lead - and not just react to - the future’s local and global challenges.

“Decisions about how children learn are best made where that learning takes place. Putting professionals at the heart of decision-making will therefore better meet the needs of children and young people from all backgrounds. Achieving the right balance between local responsibility and the need to make sure what is taught and learned is high quality is vital for keeping Scotland’s young people fit for the future, its society healthy and its economy strong.”

The Government’s proposed Centre for Teaching Excellence can play an important role in this reimagined system, say the authors. Ultimately, success will depend on real cultural change with professionals supported to make decisions that matter for the learning and wellbeing of our young people.