Enquiry in Education

Published 09/09/2024.  Last updated 25/11/2024

Enquiry in Education is an open access resource designed to support all educators to develop leadership of learning through an enquiring approach. Building on over ten years of learning from the Teacher Leadership and Educator Leadership programmes; this new approach to our professional learning is designed to be more flexible to better suit how we work today.

There are three core sections which follow a basic practitioner enquiry cycle:

  1. Planning and defining your enquiry question.
  2. Conducting your enquiry and collecting evidence.
  3. Reviewing and sharing your enquiry.

These are complemented by examples of enquiry in action from previous Education Scotland programme participants as well as examples from other schools and settings.

Self-directed professional learning activities that dig deeper into aspects of enquiry are clearly signposted.

You will also find information about additional opportunities for those who would prefer to attend an online introduction to enquiry session.

And finally, there are details of how you can share your enquiry with us. Those who choose to send their enquiry will receive an Education Scotland completion certificate.

There three core sections which follow a basic practitioner enquiry cycle have step by step guides to support you at each stage of your enquiry:

  1. Planning and defining your enquiry question - These resources will help you to pause and reflect on yourself as an educator. This is an important step in the practitioner enquiry process. It will help you start with your why rather than focussing on the what.
  2. Conducting your enquiry and collecting evidence - These resources can support you as you refine the best enquiry process for you and your context and carry out your enquiry.
  3. Reviewing and sharing your enquiry - These resources will help you to pause again and reflect on where your plan and thinking have taken you in your learning.

There is a section with examples of enquiry from previous Education Scotland programme participants from educators and practitioners, middle leaders and school and system leaders as well as examples from other schools and settings across Scotland.

And finally there are links to other professional learning activities and resources to help you dig deeper into the process.

Please note these sessions are optional - you do not need to attend to benefit from the learning within the online resource.

Introduction to Enquiry online workshops consider:

  • why we enquire and reflect on our professional why
  • what enquiry is and consider examples of enquiry
  • how we enquire
  • professional learning resources that support enquiry
  • our own ideas and areas of focus for enquiry questions

There are three opportunities to attend this live national workshop throughout the academic year.

Session dates and links

  1. Thursday 5 September 2024: 4pm to 6pm

  2. Monday 28 October 2024: 4pm to 6pm

  3. Wednesday 15 January 2025: 4pm to 6pm

We aim to make our professional learning inclusive, welcoming and accessible for all our participants.

A Reflective Journal template is available to participants to help them plan, engage and reflect on their enquiry. This is aligned to the learning content in the three core sections:

  1. Planning and defining your enquiry question.
  2. Conducting your enquiry and collecting evidence.
  3. Reviewing and sharing your enquiry.

On completion, participants have the option of submitting their enquiry using our template to demonstrate their learning to us for certification. 

Submitted enquiries will be published on our website to share the learning and inspire others.

Yes! Local Authorities and settings can facilitate professional learning sessions for teachers, early learning and childcare practitioners and community learning and development practitioners using these materials.

A downloadable Introduction to Enquiry PowerPoint presentation with facilitation notes is included within the webpages, to support you to facilitate the professional learning of colleagues engaging in this practitioner enquiry locally.

Our sharing event will take place online on Wednesday 28 May 2025 from 1pm to 4pm.

This online event is aimed at educators who have been engaging in our Leading Professional Learning programme as well as our Enquiry in Education and Coaching in Education online professional learning resources this year. You do not need to have completed any of the offers to attend.

The event will provide an opportunity to share reflections and to hear about the learning from colleagues nationally. The event is also open to educators who might be interested in engaging with these offers in the future.

Further details and sign up here.

Open the Enquiry in Education open access pages
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Enquiry in Education

Published 09/09/2024.  Last updated 25/11/2024

Enquiry in Education is an open access resource designed to support all educators to develop leadership of learning through an enquiring approach. Building on over ten years of learning from the Teacher Leadership and Educator Leadership programmes; this new approach to our professional learning is designed to be more flexible to better suit how we work today.

There are three core sections which follow a basic practitioner enquiry cycle:

  1. Planning and defining your enquiry question.
  2. Conducting your enquiry and collecting evidence.
  3. Reviewing and sharing your enquiry.

These are complemented by examples of enquiry in action from previous Education Scotland programme participants as well as examples from other schools and settings.

Self-directed professional learning activities that dig deeper into aspects of enquiry are clearly signposted.

You will also find information about additional opportunities for those who would prefer to attend an online introduction to enquiry session.

And finally, there are details of how you can share your enquiry with us. Those who choose to send their enquiry will receive an Education Scotland completion certificate.

There three core sections which follow a basic practitioner enquiry cycle have step by step guides to support you at each stage of your enquiry:

  1. Planning and defining your enquiry question - These resources will help you to pause and reflect on yourself as an educator. This is an important step in the practitioner enquiry process. It will help you start with your why rather than focussing on the what.
  2. Conducting your enquiry and collecting evidence - These resources can support you as you refine the best enquiry process for you and your context and carry out your enquiry.
  3. Reviewing and sharing your enquiry - These resources will help you to pause again and reflect on where your plan and thinking have taken you in your learning.

There is a section with examples of enquiry from previous Education Scotland programme participants from educators and practitioners, middle leaders and school and system leaders as well as examples from other schools and settings across Scotland.

And finally there are links to other professional learning activities and resources to help you dig deeper into the process.

Please note these sessions are optional - you do not need to attend to benefit from the learning within the online resource.

Introduction to Enquiry online workshops consider:

  • why we enquire and reflect on our professional why
  • what enquiry is and consider examples of enquiry
  • how we enquire
  • professional learning resources that support enquiry
  • our own ideas and areas of focus for enquiry questions

There are three opportunities to attend this live national workshop throughout the academic year.

Session dates and links

  1. Thursday 5 September 2024: 4pm to 6pm

  2. Monday 28 October 2024: 4pm to 6pm

  3. Wednesday 15 January 2025: 4pm to 6pm

We aim to make our professional learning inclusive, welcoming and accessible for all our participants.

A Reflective Journal template is available to participants to help them plan, engage and reflect on their enquiry. This is aligned to the learning content in the three core sections:

  1. Planning and defining your enquiry question.
  2. Conducting your enquiry and collecting evidence.
  3. Reviewing and sharing your enquiry.

On completion, participants have the option of submitting their enquiry using our template to demonstrate their learning to us for certification. 

Submitted enquiries will be published on our website to share the learning and inspire others.

Yes! Local Authorities and settings can facilitate professional learning sessions for teachers, early learning and childcare practitioners and community learning and development practitioners using these materials.

A downloadable Introduction to Enquiry PowerPoint presentation with facilitation notes is included within the webpages, to support you to facilitate the professional learning of colleagues engaging in this practitioner enquiry locally.

Our sharing event will take place online on Wednesday 28 May 2025 from 1pm to 4pm.

This online event is aimed at educators who have been engaging in our Leading Professional Learning programme as well as our Enquiry in Education and Coaching in Education online professional learning resources this year. You do not need to have completed any of the offers to attend.

The event will provide an opportunity to share reflections and to hear about the learning from colleagues nationally. The event is also open to educators who might be interested in engaging with these offers in the future.

Further details and sign up here.

Open the Enquiry in Education open access pages
^ Back to top