The origins of the Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC) developed from recommendations contained within the 2021 OECD Review of Scottish Education which recognised the strengths of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), and made a range of suggestions to ensure that this strength would persist into the future.

Included in its twelve recommendations was a specific recommendation on curriculum review. It stated that that, Scotland should:

"Develop a systematic approach to curriculum review: Scotland could consider establishing a curriculum review cycle with a planned timeframe and specific review agenda, led by the specialist stand-alone agency."

The OECD had correctly identified through its study of the Scottish system that Scotland did not have a process in place to regularly review its curriculum. The OECD also observed that due to the prominence of education in political debate changes to curriculum often occurred in response to criticism, controversy or one set of attainment data rather than in a planned and proactive way.

The unintended consequence is that Scotland’s Curriculum often evolved in a reactive and inconsistent way resulting at times in more suggestions of extra things that schools and setting should do. This does not allow for the opportunity to, for example, have an overview of the whole curriculum to address issues such as overload. Over time this has also led to an over-reliance on external independent reviews rather than creating internal capacity for curriculum review within the system. This has also resulted in intense focus on some areas of the curriculum, but very little focus on others.

Nearly two years after the publication of the OECD Report in May 2023 the National Discussion on Scottish Education also made recommendations regarding curriculum review. In its call to action in the section focused on curriculum the conveners of the discussion (Professor Carol Campbell and Professor Alma Harris) concluded:

"A regular curriculum review process should be established to ensure that the curriculum remains fit for purpose, reflects contemporary learner needs, and can be effectively delivered in ways to ensure that all learners in Scotland have high quality curricular-linked learning experiences.

As part of the review of the curriculum the technical framework of the BGE (including the Experiences and Outcomes) needs to be re-visited to ensure it is still fit for purpose and aligns with emerging recommendations about the Senior Phase from the Independent Review of Assessment and Qualifications."

This call to action again recognised the need and importance to establish a systematic review cycle for Scottish Education. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills announced the establishment of the Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC) for Scotland in December 2023. Education Scotland was commissioned by the Scottish Government to lead the work in April 2024.