Education Officer, National Advisor: Religious Education in Roman Catholic Schools (RERC)

Published 06/06/2025.  Last updated 10/06/2025

This is a secondment opportunity – 0.6 FTE (3 days per week over 8 months (with possibility of extending until 23 months)

Scotland is embarking on an exciting period of education reform prompted by the OECD Review of Curriculum for Excellence in 2021. In response to the OECD recommendations, the Scottish Government is now instigating a regular Curriculum for Excellence improvement cycle which will consider curricular areas in a planned and systematic way, including considerations around the relevance of curriculum content, role of knowledge, transitions between primary and secondary, and alignment between the broad general education and senior phase. 

Education Scotland, in full partnership with the Scottish Catholic Education Service, is now commencing on a curriculum improvement cycle for the RERC curriculum. The postholder will be a key member of the team supporting the implementation of the four-stage cycle of improvement including:

·        Analysing evidence and research about how the curriculum is working and to develop the rationale and vision for the revised curriculum.

·        Engagement with stakeholders and partners to co-develop the revised curriculum.

·        Build capacity to support effective implementation and adoption of the revised curriculum through piloting, professional learning, sharing of best practice and monitoring the implementation.

·        Mobilising, monitoring and evaluating the implementation to support work around a future cycle of improvement.

Responsibilities

Closing Date: 25 June 2025 at 11:59pm (dates for interviews will be during the week beginning 11 August 2025 - this may be subject to change)

Location: These posts are based in Livingston, Aberdeen and Glasgow with hybrid working in line with current Scottish Government policies.

Application guidance

Please read the secondment application guidance for more information on applying for these roles.

Apply for this role

To apply for this role please complete the inward secondment application form and diversity monitoring form.

PLEASE NOTE: Applications will be shared with the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES)

Curriculum improvement cycle

  • Work in close partnership with colleagues across Education Scotland and the Scottish Catholic Education Service to ensure a coherent and coordinated approach to curriculum improvement cycles.
  • Gathering and reviewing evidence, research, and feedback from stakeholders on the current RERC curriculum to identify what is working well and what needs to change.
  • Identifying and collating national and international research on effective curriculum-making for RERC including reviews of effective curricula from around the world.
  • Engaging with stakeholders to develop the rationale and vision for an exciting, world-leading, future-oriented RERC curriculum that will empower our children and young people to thrive and flourish and be a positive force for change in their communities, Scotland, and the world.
  •  Engage closely with teams and workstreams leading on core competencies and cross-cutting themes, around the Responsibilities of All.
  • Ensure that the curriculum improvement cycle is underpinned by an unwavering focus on equity and equality to ensure it is fully inclusive and is welcoming and attractive to all our children, irrespective of their background, protected characteristic, or level of deprivation.
  •  Engage successfully with stakeholders to co-design, test and implement the revised curriculum to ensure it meets the needs and aspirations of learners now and in the future.
  •  Support the sharing, learning, and adopting phase though piloting, development of professional learning programmes, development of support material and sharing of best practice.
  • Support planning for the mobilising, monitoring, and evaluation of the implementation phase to ensure the revised curriculum continues to be implemented, adopted, and fully mainstreamed. 

Ongoing improvement support

  • As a member of Education Scotland’s National Directorate, work closely with team colleagues, and the Scottish Catholic Education Service to ensure strong alignment of strategies and activities and to maximise collective impact.
  • Secure improvements in learning, teaching, and assessment, through bespoke support to schools, local authorities and nationally.
  • Support Education Scotland’s RERC networks by sharing practice, providing guidance and advice and through the provision of high-quality professional learning.
  • The post-holder should be educated to degree level.
  • The post-holder should have current registration with the GTCS

Essential criteria

  • Detailed knowledge of the RERC (denominational) curriculum within the context of Curriculum for Excellence.
  • Have successfully completed the Catholic Teacher Certificate.
  • Experience of leading effective curriculum improvement in relation to RERC
  • Proven track record of working with SCES or Diocesan RE Advisers
  • Ability to form positive relationships and lead successful engagements with stakeholders and partner organisations within the context of RERC.
  • Experience of gathering and analysing research, feedback, and evidence to develop clear recommendations, outcomes, and impact
  • Proven track record in leading improvement and managing change at a strategic level within the context of RERC.

Desirable criteria

  • Evidence of CLPL/PU, or additional qualifications in the area of RERC
  • Subject Knowledge and understanding
  • Leading others
  • Communications and engagement
  • Improving performance
  • Analysis and use of evidence
^ Back to top

Education Officer, National Advisor: Religious Education in Roman Catholic Schools (RERC)

Published 06/06/2025.  Last updated 10/06/2025

This is a secondment opportunity – 0.6 FTE (3 days per week over 8 months (with possibility of extending until 23 months)

Scotland is embarking on an exciting period of education reform prompted by the OECD Review of Curriculum for Excellence in 2021. In response to the OECD recommendations, the Scottish Government is now instigating a regular Curriculum for Excellence improvement cycle which will consider curricular areas in a planned and systematic way, including considerations around the relevance of curriculum content, role of knowledge, transitions between primary and secondary, and alignment between the broad general education and senior phase. 

Education Scotland, in full partnership with the Scottish Catholic Education Service, is now commencing on a curriculum improvement cycle for the RERC curriculum. The postholder will be a key member of the team supporting the implementation of the four-stage cycle of improvement including:

·        Analysing evidence and research about how the curriculum is working and to develop the rationale and vision for the revised curriculum.

·        Engagement with stakeholders and partners to co-develop the revised curriculum.

·        Build capacity to support effective implementation and adoption of the revised curriculum through piloting, professional learning, sharing of best practice and monitoring the implementation.

·        Mobilising, monitoring and evaluating the implementation to support work around a future cycle of improvement.

Responsibilities

Closing Date: 25 June 2025 at 11:59pm (dates for interviews will be during the week beginning 11 August 2025 - this may be subject to change)

Location: These posts are based in Livingston, Aberdeen and Glasgow with hybrid working in line with current Scottish Government policies.

Application guidance

Please read the secondment application guidance for more information on applying for these roles.

Apply for this role

To apply for this role please complete the inward secondment application form and diversity monitoring form.

PLEASE NOTE: Applications will be shared with the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES)

Curriculum improvement cycle

  • Work in close partnership with colleagues across Education Scotland and the Scottish Catholic Education Service to ensure a coherent and coordinated approach to curriculum improvement cycles.
  • Gathering and reviewing evidence, research, and feedback from stakeholders on the current RERC curriculum to identify what is working well and what needs to change.
  • Identifying and collating national and international research on effective curriculum-making for RERC including reviews of effective curricula from around the world.
  • Engaging with stakeholders to develop the rationale and vision for an exciting, world-leading, future-oriented RERC curriculum that will empower our children and young people to thrive and flourish and be a positive force for change in their communities, Scotland, and the world.
  •  Engage closely with teams and workstreams leading on core competencies and cross-cutting themes, around the Responsibilities of All.
  • Ensure that the curriculum improvement cycle is underpinned by an unwavering focus on equity and equality to ensure it is fully inclusive and is welcoming and attractive to all our children, irrespective of their background, protected characteristic, or level of deprivation.
  •  Engage successfully with stakeholders to co-design, test and implement the revised curriculum to ensure it meets the needs and aspirations of learners now and in the future.
  •  Support the sharing, learning, and adopting phase though piloting, development of professional learning programmes, development of support material and sharing of best practice.
  • Support planning for the mobilising, monitoring, and evaluation of the implementation phase to ensure the revised curriculum continues to be implemented, adopted, and fully mainstreamed. 

Ongoing improvement support

  • As a member of Education Scotland’s National Directorate, work closely with team colleagues, and the Scottish Catholic Education Service to ensure strong alignment of strategies and activities and to maximise collective impact.
  • Secure improvements in learning, teaching, and assessment, through bespoke support to schools, local authorities and nationally.
  • Support Education Scotland’s RERC networks by sharing practice, providing guidance and advice and through the provision of high-quality professional learning.
  • The post-holder should be educated to degree level.
  • The post-holder should have current registration with the GTCS

Essential criteria

  • Detailed knowledge of the RERC (denominational) curriculum within the context of Curriculum for Excellence.
  • Have successfully completed the Catholic Teacher Certificate.
  • Experience of leading effective curriculum improvement in relation to RERC
  • Proven track record of working with SCES or Diocesan RE Advisers
  • Ability to form positive relationships and lead successful engagements with stakeholders and partner organisations within the context of RERC.
  • Experience of gathering and analysing research, feedback, and evidence to develop clear recommendations, outcomes, and impact
  • Proven track record in leading improvement and managing change at a strategic level within the context of RERC.

Desirable criteria

  • Evidence of CLPL/PU, or additional qualifications in the area of RERC
  • Subject Knowledge and understanding
  • Leading others
  • Communications and engagement
  • Improving performance
  • Analysis and use of evidence
^ Back to top