The plan sets out how Education Scotland will continue to ‘re-focus through reform’ and firmly places curriculum as our primary focus, whilst effectively managing the separation of the Inspection Function (HMIE) from Education Scotland (ES) and associated changes in accountability.

The strategic priorities and key actions in this plan act as a bridge between this intensive reform period and Education Scotland’s longer-term organisational strategy for 2026 – 31 and align with the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, public service reform programme, National Improvement Framework (NIF) and Programme for Government (PfG). Importantly, they illustrate Education Scotland’s role as an enabler of excellence and equity in education and recognise our contribution to improvement for the wider education system as well as eradicating child poverty in Scotland.

This plan sets out our key actions plotted against our strategic priorities from the existing Corporate Plan and aims Education Scotland towards four ‘re-focus through reform’ areas:

• Curriculum
• Professional Learning and Leadership
• Scottish Attainment Challenge
• Enhancing inspection.

The content of the plan illustrates our commitment to inclusion, wellbeing, equity and equality and to meeting our wider obligations as a public body, through effective governance arrangements and working effectively with key stakeholders, especially local government. This is in recognition of our contribution to eradicating child poverty and the performance of the wider education system.

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Education Scotland’s Annual Action Plan 2025-26: ‘re-focus through reform’ (PDF)