Curriculum Innovation and Design

Published 18/09/2023.  Last updated 18/06/2025

Education Scotland and ADES colleagues have worked together to develop a Professional Learning and Leadership (PLL) programme exploring the opportunities and challenges in Curriculum Innovation and Design.

Intended Outcomes:

Strengthened capacity for curriculum design at local level (resulting in curriculum reflecting place-based resource).

Doing this by creating space to:

  • Increase knowledge, understanding and professional confidence

  • Build networks to support innovation

  • Exchange knowledge and share learning

  • Support collaboration across sectors, within settings and with partners.

Resulting in confidence in using Scotland’s Curriculum Framework to:

  • Develop a curriculum which is relevant for every learner in the context in which they live and learn

  • Build on the strengths of communities and partners

  • Identify appropriate approaches to evidence impact of curriculum change

  • Enable the agency and engagement of children and young people in their learner journeys

There is no requirement for participants to hold a particular role in education, only that they are leading on the design of curriculum from their role and would benefit from being part of a wider 3-18 curriculum network. 

Being part of the programme should result in increased confidence in using Scotland’s Curriculum Framework to:

  • Develop a curriculum which is relevant for every learner in the context in which they live and learn

  • Build on the strengths of communities and partners

  • Identify appropriate approaches to evidence impact of curriculum change

  • Enable the agency and engagement of children and young people in their learner journeys

The programme will create space to:

•    Increase knowledge, understanding and professional confidence

•    Build networks to support innovation

•    Exchange knowledge and share learning

•    Support collaboration across sectors, within settings and with partners.

Participants will have opportunity to reflect on Scotland’s Curriculum Framework and aspects of the Curriculum Improvement Cycle.

The programme will run over in two cohorts over the next academic session, but the curriculum network will exist beyond this.

The programme format is as follows:

  • 1 online session

  • 2 full day in person sessions (likely to be held in central belt area, venue tbc)

  • 1 link up day with previous cohorts in person

Dates:

Cohort 5

  • Wednesday 10th September 2025: Online session 4 - 5pm

  • Thursday 2nd October 2025: Full day, in person session (Central Belt - venue TBC)

  • Friday 3rd October 2025: Full day, in person session (Central Belt - venue TBC)

Cohort 6

  • Wednesday 28th January 2026: Online session 4 - 5pm

  • Thursday 26th February 2026: Full day, in person session (Location and venue TBC)

  • Friday 27th February 2026: Full day, in person session (Location and venue TBC)

Please note: There will be a residential option for participants who would wish to stay.  We will also assess where in Scotland Cohort 6 would be best held depending on participant numbers from geographical areas.

Learner Commitments (as in application form):

  • I have considered the nature of this professional learning programme and confirm my commitment to sharing aspects of our curriculum journey for future participants of the programme.

  • I have discussed this with my line manager as a next step in my professional learning.

  • I understand that as a participant in a Scottish Government funded programme, I am expected to attend in-person sessions as detailed. I understand that failure to do so will incur unnecessary expense to Education Scotland, potentially impacting future programming and events.

 

The programme format is as follows:

  • 1 online session

  • 2 full day in person sessions (likely to be held in central belt area, venue tbc)

  • 1 link up day with previous cohorts in person

"It has been excellent to make connections with colleagues across the country in similar settings and also different settings. Confidence and background to move things forward as part of my own setting."
Primary School Principal Teacher

"Great networking opportunity. Loved the time to read and explore documents and principles" 
Primary Headteacher

"Space and time to spend on curriculum and innovative ideas. Spending time with different people from Education Scotland to speak through thoughts and ideas."
Secondary Depute Headteacher

"I love the practical aspects of the learning offer….we have ideas ready to ‘take away’ and use! It is not too high a level re focus on academic research!!! Perfect level for busy HTs!!"
Secondary Headteacher

"Time to think, resources to support thinking, opportunity to network."
Local Authority Officer

Interested in Cohort 5 or 6? Complete the relevant MS Form by Friday, August 29th, 2025.

For Cohort 5 - https://forms.office.com/e/TiGBDV46fS

Dates:

  • Wednesday 10th September 2025: Online session 4 - 5pm

  • Thursday 2nd October 2025: Full day, in person session (Central Belt - venue TBC)

  • Friday 3rd October 2025: Full day, in person session (Central Belt - venue TBC)

For Cohort 6 - https://forms.office.com/e/xnLmvzU3qW

Dates:

  • Wednesday 28th January 2026: Online session 4 - 5pm

  • Thursday 26th February 2026: Full day, in person session (Location and venue TBC)

  • Friday 27th February 2026: Full day, in person session (Location and venue TBC)

Please note: There will be a residential option for participants who would wish to stay.  We will also assess where in Scotland Cohort 6 would be best held depending on participant numbers from geographical areas.
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Curriculum Innovation and Design

Published 18/09/2023.  Last updated 18/06/2025

Education Scotland and ADES colleagues have worked together to develop a Professional Learning and Leadership (PLL) programme exploring the opportunities and challenges in Curriculum Innovation and Design.

Intended Outcomes:

Strengthened capacity for curriculum design at local level (resulting in curriculum reflecting place-based resource).

Doing this by creating space to:

  • Increase knowledge, understanding and professional confidence

  • Build networks to support innovation

  • Exchange knowledge and share learning

  • Support collaboration across sectors, within settings and with partners.

Resulting in confidence in using Scotland’s Curriculum Framework to:

  • Develop a curriculum which is relevant for every learner in the context in which they live and learn

  • Build on the strengths of communities and partners

  • Identify appropriate approaches to evidence impact of curriculum change

  • Enable the agency and engagement of children and young people in their learner journeys

There is no requirement for participants to hold a particular role in education, only that they are leading on the design of curriculum from their role and would benefit from being part of a wider 3-18 curriculum network. 

Being part of the programme should result in increased confidence in using Scotland’s Curriculum Framework to:

  • Develop a curriculum which is relevant for every learner in the context in which they live and learn

  • Build on the strengths of communities and partners

  • Identify appropriate approaches to evidence impact of curriculum change

  • Enable the agency and engagement of children and young people in their learner journeys

The programme will create space to:

•    Increase knowledge, understanding and professional confidence

•    Build networks to support innovation

•    Exchange knowledge and share learning

•    Support collaboration across sectors, within settings and with partners.

Participants will have opportunity to reflect on Scotland’s Curriculum Framework and aspects of the Curriculum Improvement Cycle.

The programme will run over in two cohorts over the next academic session, but the curriculum network will exist beyond this.

The programme format is as follows:

  • 1 online session

  • 2 full day in person sessions (likely to be held in central belt area, venue tbc)

  • 1 link up day with previous cohorts in person

Dates:

Cohort 5

  • Wednesday 10th September 2025: Online session 4 - 5pm

  • Thursday 2nd October 2025: Full day, in person session (Central Belt - venue TBC)

  • Friday 3rd October 2025: Full day, in person session (Central Belt - venue TBC)

Cohort 6

  • Wednesday 28th January 2026: Online session 4 - 5pm

  • Thursday 26th February 2026: Full day, in person session (Location and venue TBC)

  • Friday 27th February 2026: Full day, in person session (Location and venue TBC)

Please note: There will be a residential option for participants who would wish to stay.  We will also assess where in Scotland Cohort 6 would be best held depending on participant numbers from geographical areas.

Learner Commitments (as in application form):

  • I have considered the nature of this professional learning programme and confirm my commitment to sharing aspects of our curriculum journey for future participants of the programme.

  • I have discussed this with my line manager as a next step in my professional learning.

  • I understand that as a participant in a Scottish Government funded programme, I am expected to attend in-person sessions as detailed. I understand that failure to do so will incur unnecessary expense to Education Scotland, potentially impacting future programming and events.

 

The programme format is as follows:

  • 1 online session

  • 2 full day in person sessions (likely to be held in central belt area, venue tbc)

  • 1 link up day with previous cohorts in person

"It has been excellent to make connections with colleagues across the country in similar settings and also different settings. Confidence and background to move things forward as part of my own setting."
Primary School Principal Teacher

"Great networking opportunity. Loved the time to read and explore documents and principles" 
Primary Headteacher

"Space and time to spend on curriculum and innovative ideas. Spending time with different people from Education Scotland to speak through thoughts and ideas."
Secondary Depute Headteacher

"I love the practical aspects of the learning offer….we have ideas ready to ‘take away’ and use! It is not too high a level re focus on academic research!!! Perfect level for busy HTs!!"
Secondary Headteacher

"Time to think, resources to support thinking, opportunity to network."
Local Authority Officer

Interested in Cohort 5 or 6? Complete the relevant MS Form by Friday, August 29th, 2025.

For Cohort 5 - https://forms.office.com/e/TiGBDV46fS

Dates:

  • Wednesday 10th September 2025: Online session 4 - 5pm

  • Thursday 2nd October 2025: Full day, in person session (Central Belt - venue TBC)

  • Friday 3rd October 2025: Full day, in person session (Central Belt - venue TBC)

For Cohort 6 - https://forms.office.com/e/xnLmvzU3qW

Dates:

  • Wednesday 28th January 2026: Online session 4 - 5pm

  • Thursday 26th February 2026: Full day, in person session (Location and venue TBC)

  • Friday 27th February 2026: Full day, in person session (Location and venue TBC)

Please note: There will be a residential option for participants who would wish to stay.  We will also assess where in Scotland Cohort 6 would be best held depending on participant numbers from geographical areas.
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