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Correcting the curriculum

Member blog

Professor Louise Hayward, Emeritus Professor, Educational Assessment and Innovation, University of Glasgow; and Lead of the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment (IRQA), argues the need for education reform in Scotland based on its findings

Article from Issue 7 of our member magazine, Insight.

All education reform should begin with three questions. First, is change needed? Second, if yes, what changes will improve education for children and young people? Third, how can ideas become practice across the board?

Is change needed?

It was clear from evidence gathered from across society that students’ qualifications experiences were problematic. Young people taking National Qualifications told us that rather than learning deeply about subjects, they spent much time rehearsing for examinations, memorising text, being taught formulaic answers, completing past papers, and studying for prelims. Some liked examinations, while stress meant others could not demonstrate what they knew or what they could do.

Young people taking other qualifications commonly felt their achievements were valued less. Schools were judged mainly by their performance in National Qualifications. It was felt that in Scotland, a country committed to the UN Convention on Rights of the Child, some students mattered more than others.

In addition, the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment (IRQA) recognised that the world is changing fast. Current and future students need different kinds of knowledge, skills, and competences, and qualifications should offer evidence of a wider range of achievements.

What changes will improve education for children and young people?

IRQA proposed a new qualification, the Scottish Diploma of Achievement, which will implement IRQA recommended improvements to current curriculum and examinations, including: project learning, where students apply knowledge and skills from their subjects/courses to tackle a problem important to them; and personal learning, where learners reflect on experiences in and beyond classrooms and how these – and the contributions they make to their schools, colleges, families or communities – influence what they choose to do next.

The Scottish Diploma of Achievement may be new to Scotland, but many other countries have qualifications that are similar. The Diploma also has much in common with the International Baccalaureate. These approaches to qualifications share a common aim, to allow all students to show more of their achievements and to provide a more rounded picture of each individual.

How can good ideas become practice in every school and college in Scotland?

The IRQA involved all those whose support would be needed if changes to qualifications were to be successful: young people and their parents or carers; educationalists, from teachers and leaders in schools and colleges to those working in local authorities and national organisations; and those who use qualifications: colleges, universities, and employers. All of these communities debated how qualifications could be better and all agreed to the recommendations in the It’s Our Future report.

Where are we now?

Changes to Scottish Education are underway but there remains much to be done. There is a tension between moving so quickly that the education system cannot cope and moving too slowly. Young people currently in our schools and colleges need changes to qualifications. Colleges, universities, and employers are also calling for reform to qualifications to ensure students find the transition into the next stage of their lives to be smoother.

I hope that soon there will be a commitment to the idea of a broader qualification and assessment system and a plan to realise it. Scotland needs qualifications that recognise the achievements of all students; one that will improve their learning experiences, build their enthusiasm for learning, and encourage them to become lifelong learners.

About the Author

Professor Louise Hayward led the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessments

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Children's Hospices Across Scotland: Bereavement Worker

  • Permanent, part time (15 hrs per week)
  • £32,385 - £36,210 pro rata)
  • Aberdeen

The Spiritual Care and Bereavement Team is part of the CHAS Outreach Team, delivering holistic family centred support to children and families across Scotland. Working closely with colleagues in the family support team, the team delivers a range of evidence based, high quality supportive interventions, and bereavement programmes, to meet the individual needs of family members.

CHAS are seeking a compassionate and adaptable individual with proven experience in providing bereavement support to children, young people, adults, and families to join as a Bereavement Worker. The ideal candidate will demonstrate enthusiasm, emotional insight, and the ability to work creatively while understanding and respecting diverse perspectives.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced Bereavement Worker to take their development to the next level - supporting the Spiritual Care and Bereavement Lead to develop and deliver the bereavement service to meet the individual needs of family members in the North East of Scotland.

Find out more about this opportunity

Closing date: Sunday 1 June 2025

Interviews: Wednesday 11 June 2025

Vacancy details

Please visit the vacancy section on our member's website.

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Children's Hospices Across Scotland: Partnership Executive

  • Permanent, full time
  • £34,680 - £38,760
  • Glasgow or Edinburgh (hybrid)

CHAS has an opening for a new Executive within its Partnerships and Philanthropy Team, aligned to Corporate Partnerships.

The Corporate Partnerships team are moving through a period of growth which will set this team up to strategically focus their resources and skill where it is most needed in order to attract, cultivate and retain valuable corporate partnerships.

Reporting to the Partnership Account Manager, the Partnership Executive will be involved in maintaining existing supporter relationships through the Corporate Fundraising journey, ensuring all possible opportunities for revenue generation are utilised.

Find out more about this opportunity

Closing date: Wednesday 28 May 2025

Interviews: Tuesday 10 June 2025

Vacancy details

Please visit the vacancy section on our member's website.

Further details

Job vacancies with Children in Scotland

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"If you are passionate about equality, solving issues, and making a measurable difference, then Changing Our World might be the perfect opportunity for you"

 Changing our World is our children and young people’s advisory group. The group sits at the heart of our work and by sharing their experiences, thoughts and passions, members make a real difference on key issues impacting the lives of children and young people across Scotland.

It is an exciting time for the group as we look for new members —an opportunity that only occurs every two years. Current member, Anna, has kindly shared her experiences of being part of Changing our World to help inform any other young people thinking of applying.

I have been a member of Changing Our World (CoW) for almost six years now, and my involvement in the group has been nothing short of incredible. Throughout my time in CoW, I have been given the opportunity to take part in a wide range of really valuable experiences.

First of all, I have been lucky enough to meet a variety of other Scottish young people from a range of different backgrounds, as well as different areas of the country. Working in the advisory group with my peers has been enlightening as each member has something different and useful to offer to the group and our projects. The contributions we make to the charity, in my opinion, support us to feel as though we are part of something bigger, hopefully improving the lives of children and young people in Scotland. The staff at Children in Scotland these past six years have played a hugely important role in assisting us in having our voices heard. They have encouraged us to share our views and have supported us incredibly to ensure we are comfortable to offer our viewpoints and opinions.

The opportunities I have been able to participate in as a result of being a member of Changing Our World have been invaluable to me. These experiences would likely have passed me by had I not been a member of CoW. From attending group meetings and zoom calls, to speaking with the key decision makers in the country, we have had countless opportunities to express our feelings on key issues that we would like to improve. I have attended meetings with MSPs to discuss key concerns for Scottish young people. On other occasions I have had the opportunity to sit in on interview panels for Children in Scotland and support in the decision-making process for positions within the charity.

Co-chairing Children in Scotland’s Annual Conference was another exciting experience I value. Additionally, I was able to take part in the planning and organisation of political hustings for Scottish elections, both for Children in Scotland itself and for other similar Scottish charities. These opportunities allowed me to converse with Scottish political party leaders and MSPs and have my voice heard by them, and more importantly have made me feel as though I can help my peers who have not been lucky enough to participate to also have their voices heard through me, and through Changing Our World as a group.

For any young person in Scotland that meets the age criteria and is interested in joining the group, I would fully recommend applying to join Changing Our World. If you are passionate about equality, solving issues, and making a measurable difference in our country and world, then Changing Our World might be the perfect opportunity for you. In the group we have focused on how we would tackle concerns ranging across a number of key focus areas including education, exams, period poverty, climate change and much more. For the young people in Scotland that are passionate about changemaking and having their say, then you might just be the perfect fit for Changing Our World.

Anna is currently a member of Changing our World. 

If you are interested in getting involved, check out our information sheet, and direct any questions to pshirazi@childreninscotland.org.uk

 

Become a member of Changing Our World

Download our info sheet to find out more about the application process. Apply before 14 July 2025.

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Changing our World

Learn more about our children and young people's advisory group

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Annual Conference 2025

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Foster Care Fortnight commences with a new recruitment campaign to find more foster carers

To mark the start of Foster Care Fortnight, which runs from 12 – 25 May and is led by The Fostering Network, the Scottish Government has launched a new recruitment campaign to help find more foster carers.

Launched by the First Minister in Edinburgh yesterday, the campaign aims to encourage more people to consider becoming a foster carer. It builds on the work the Scottish Government is doing to Keep the Promise by 2030, ensuring care-experienced children and young people in Scotland grow up loved, safe and respected.

Speaking ahead of the launch, the First Minister said:

“We have committed to Keeping The Promise to care-experienced children so that they grow up safe, loved and respected.

“To help us do this we need more foster carers across Scotland, so that’s why my government is launching a new campaign to encourage more people to consider fostering.

“Too many people don’t know what foster care involves or how to become a foster carer.

"This campaign will raise awareness, build empathy, and challenge outdated assumptions about who can foster, educating people on the transformational effect that fostering can have both on young people and foster carers alike.”

The theme of Foster Care Fortnight 2025 is the power of relationships. To find out how to get involved, visit The Fostering Network’s website.

Foster Care Fortnight

Learn more about the campaign running from 12-25 May

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Latest news

Catch up on the latest news from across the children’s sector

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Annual Conference 2025

Making Space for Voices: Join our Annual Conference in Glasgow on 28 and 29 May 2025

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Phone-free policy to be piloted in two secondary schools in Edinburgh

Portobello High School and Queensferry High School will be the first secondary schools in Scotland to pilot a zero-phone policy, with Portobello High School becoming phone-free from 7 May and Queensferry High School introducing the policy on 14 May - with young people required to store their phones in pouches at the start of each school day.

All learners from S1 to S6 will be responsible for storing mobile phones in secure and lockable Yondr pouches during the school day. The storage pouches are locked and un-locked magnetically, with phones remaining in the pupils’ possession throughout the school day.

The phone-free policy has been introduced following extensive engagement with pupils and parents and carers over a six-month period, with focus groups meeting to discuss the policy and 86% of parents and carers of children attending Portobello High School positively supported the introduction of the policy.

It is hoped that the new phone-free policy will protect the learning environment, encouraging young people to stay in class and focused on learning without the distraction of checking or responding to a notification on a phone. Research shows that a phone free school environment positively impacts young people’s mental health and wellbeing, both in school and at-home, encouraging a healthier approach to managing time online and increasing face-to-face interaction.

Councillor Joan Griffiths, Education, Children and Families Convener, said:

“I’m pleased to see Edinburgh schools leading the way in introducing a mobile-phone free school environment. Mobile phones in classroom settings are increasingly competing with the teachers for learners’ attention and limiting access to mobile phones during the school day is only a positive thing for our young people.

“I know that schools across Edinburgh, and indeed the country, are exploring ways to manage mobile phone use, including restricting phone use during the school day. The new pouches provide an innovative way for our young people to have distance from their devices while having the reassurance that they are still in their possession. We hope that this new policy will increase focus on learning, reduce classroom distractions and help improve wellbeing.”

Latest news

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Find out more about how we embed the inclusion and participation of children and young people in our work

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Making children’s rights real: Juliet Harris answers Changing our World’s questions

Our children and young people’s advisory group, Changing our World, sent their burning questions to Juliet Harris, Director of Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights), to learn more about her keynote address and how she will be preparing for Children in Scotland’s Annual Conference later this month. Here's what Juliet had to say:

What are you going to be talking about at the conference?

I’ll be talking about how we’re making sure Scotland’s new children’s rights law brings real change to the lives of babies, children and young people. I’ll be sharing stories that show it needs to be about more than just words - we need action! I’ll also talk about how adults can work with babies, children and young people to make sure their rights are respected every day, everywhere - so that Scotland becomes a place where every baby, child and young person grows up in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding.

Why are you passionate about this subject?

I’m passionate about children’s rights because involving babies, children and young people doesn’t just help them feel valued and included - it helps to make Scotland (and the world!) a better place, shaped by their brilliant ideas. And it’s really fun too!

Do you have any on the day rituals to prepare for presenting a speech?

Before a big presentation, I try to speak with children or young people to see if they have any ideas that could help make it better. I also think about how I’d explain it to someone in my family who doesn’t always understand why children’s rights matter - if I can find a story that helps them get it, I know it’s a good one to share. And on the day itself… I always hold a pen while I speak! I never use it to write but having it in my hand somehow helps me feel a bit less nervous.

Juliet Harris will be presenting a keynote address on making children's rights real at Children in Scotland's Annual Conference on 28-29 May. To join us, please visit our conference hub.  

About the author

Juliet Harris is Director at Together (Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights)

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Annual Conference 2025

Making Space for Voices: Join our Annual Conference in Glasgow on 28 and 29 May 2025

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#CiSAC25 blog

Breaking the stigma: Advocating for young people in Fife

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#CiSAC25 blog

Protecting young people from the trauma of homelessness

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Changing our World

Learn more about our children and young people's advisory group

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Breaking the stigma: Advocating for young people in Fife

#CiSAC25 blog

Working to support young people impacted by substance use, the team at the CluedUp Project know only too well of the harm stigma can have on children and young people. To raise awareness of the importance of challenging stigma, CluedUp Project will present a workshop at Children in Scotland’s Annual Conference promoting inclusive practice across the sector.

Here, Stevan Sutherland, Team Leader at the Fife-based charity, discusses the different ways stigma impacts young people’s lives and explores the benefits of taking a whole family approach to tackle the problem.

We support young people who are affected by substance use. These young people and their families have previously experienced and continue to experience stigma. Substance use issues alone can be stigmatising with lots of pre-conceived notions and misconceptions fuelled by mainstream media. However, we support young people who often have much more complex needs and are at risk of or already do face multiple forms of stigma.

Challenging stigma

It is important for professionals working in the children's sector to challenge stigma because it can severely impact children, young people and their families. Young people and their families have shared personal stories about their experiences of stigma which have had a range of negative consequences. It has affected their attendance at school, relationships with professionals, health and wellbeing, substance use issues and engagement with services and ultimately has affected them achieving positive outcomes. These issues left them feeling misunderstood, isolated, embarrassed and afraid.

Crucially these findings have come from young people and families who were experiencing multiple forms of stigma across various aspects of their lives. Sometimes there was just a lack of awareness that certain attitudes or words were stigmatising, so having the confidence to challenge it can help educate others and raise awareness.

How the sector can support children and young people

It is important for professionals working in the children's sector to challenge stigma because it can severely impact children, young people and their families. Young people and their families have shared personal stories about their experiences of stigma which have had a range of negative consequences. It has affected their attendance at school, relationships with professionals, health and wellbeing, substance use issues and engagement with services and ultimately has affected them achieving positive outcomes. These issues left them feeling misunderstood, isolated, embarrassed and afraid. Crucially these findings have come from young people and families who were experiencing multiple forms of stigma across various aspects of their lives. Sometimes there was just a lack of awareness that certain attitudes or words were stigmatising, so having the confidence to challenge it can help educate others and raise awareness.

A whole family approach to tackling stigma

We provide a comprehensive, youth friendly substance use support and information service to young people aged 11 to 26 years in Fife, also targeting the wider issues of general wellbeing and lifestyle. Our service provides education, prevention, early intervention and diversion for young people affected by their own or someone else’s substance use.

The Stigma toolkit that we developed with families was from our Making it Work for Families (MIWFF) partnership. MIWFF is an innovative whole family partnership approach to supporting families. We are engaging with families in the Kirkcaldy and Levenmouth area, with a young person in P7, S1 or S2 in the household, offering a range of engagement activities to meet families’ needs. We deliver this with three other third sector providers in Fife - Fife Gingerbread, Citizen and Advice Rights Fife and Fife Intensive Rehabilitation Support Team. We are continuing to develop the partnership this year with a focus on the sustainability of delivering it within current funding challenges.

Clued-up will be presenting a workshop at Children in Scotland’s Annual Conference on stigma and promoting inclusive practice. Stevan will be part of a panel discussing the impact of stigma on children and young people. Stevan said:

“I am looking forward to meeting colleagues working with children and young people, hearing about experiences from the work that they do and hopefully stories from young people themselves. I find that real stories and experiences can be very powerful and inspiring as well as networking and making new contacts”

Visit the hub for Children in Scotland's Annual Conference here

About the author

Stevan Sutherland is Team Leader at CluedUp Project

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Annual Conference 2025

Making Space for Voices: Join our Annual Conference in Glasgow on 28 and 29 May 2025

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Our services

We offer a range of services that provide support, advice and representation for children and families

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New report explores the role of our third sector participation in Children’s Services Planning

Children in Scotland has published a new report today which explores the learning from recent activity delivered through the Supporting the Third Sector project.

This report focuses on intensive locality support delivered in three localities supporting the implementation of the ‘How good is our third sector participation in Children’s Services Planning? self-evaluation tool'.

Working across Aberdeenshire, Dumfries and Galloway and Glasgow, the project has supported Children's Services Planning Partnerships to consider the role of the third sector in children's services planning.

Learning from across the three areas has clearly demonstrated the positive impact of the self-evaluation process on relationships between the third sector and statutory partners. This has stimulated a shared understanding of children's services planning, developed relationships and created clear opportunities for engagement.

“Use of the tool has created opportunities for focused, honest and equal dialogue between partners in improving our CS [Children’s Services] planning, engagement and participation of TSOs [Third Sector Organisations]”

If you would like to read more, the report can be found here: https://lnkd.in/dbmf85bu

For more on the Supporting the Third Sector project, please email Hannah: hpreist@childreninscotland.org.uk

How good is our third sector participation in Children's Services Planning?

Read the Learning Report on 2024-2025 Intensive Locality Support published by Children in Scotland through the Supporting the Third Sector project

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Supporting the Third Sector Project

Learn more about the Supporting the Third Sector project

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Breaking the habit: social media use among young people

Excerpt from Insight magazine

In the spring issue of our member magazine Insight, published in March 2025, experienced voices shared their perspectives on social media use among young people and keeping children safe online. Discussions in the news this week have raised further alarm bells regarding the addictive and harmful nature of young people spending too much time online.

Here, Jordan Daly, Co-Founder and Director of Time for Inclusive Education (TIE), shares his perspective on this important issue, exploring what urgent action is needed and highlighting a new tool to help school staff to counter disinformation and online hate.

Children and young people are increasingly exposed to hate, extremism, and disinformation on social media platforms. Data from Ofcom shows that a quarter of children aged five to seven and 80% of 16- and 17-year-olds have active TikTok accounts. In 2022, Statista reported that children aged four to 18 in Britain spend an average of 114 minutes daily on the app.

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) conducted a study of TikTok, analysing 1,030 videos from 491 accounts. They found 312 videos promoting white supremacy, 90 promoting anti-LGBT content, 58 promoting misogyny, and 273 glorifying extremist ideologies. This was being amplified by algorithms designed to boost sensationalist or emotive content to increase engagement.

The effects of this are evident in Scottish schools, where teachers have expressed concerns about the role of online platforms in spreading hate. In 2024, we led focus groups with over 200 pupils between S3 and S6 across Scotland. They shared their experiences with the extreme hate they encountered online, particularly misogyny, homophobia, and racism.

Pupils were worried about the “normalisation” and “minimisation” of online hate, where harmful content is reduced to jokes or trolling. This not only desensitises young people to prejudice but also contributes to an increase in prejudice-based bullying in schools. The young people also struggled to discern what was true online and discussed encountering harmful conspiracy narratives.

This is an urgent issue. With social media platforms removing fact-checking services, schools and teachers need the right tools to help pupils navigate online spaces safely, free from information manipulation and division.

To address this, we’ve partnered with ISD to combine our expertise in anti-prejudice education and counter-extremism strategies. Together, we have launched the ‘Digital Discourse Initiative’ in Scotland. This includes a free online professional learning module to help teachers and school staff counter online hate, identify disinformation, and support the development of critical thinking and digital media literacy.

The course, developed with experts, covers social media, disinformation, and online hate. It provides evidence-based strategies for schools to address these issues and includes a case analysis on radical misogyny and the ‘Manosphere’ created by Zero Tolerance.

Online hate and disinformation are growing, increasingly targeted at marginalised communities with dehumanising narratives and dangerous rhetoric that can lead to violence, bullying, and discrimination offline.

As a user of social media platforms, I can see that they feel more divided, more extreme, and more toxic than they did just a few years ago. I can also see the real-world consequences of this. If you feel that way too, remember that children and young people are using the same platforms that we are.

Experts are warning that disinformation and polarisation threaten democracy. Education is an essential defence.

Teachers and school staff can access the Digital Discourse Initiative professional learning for free via digitaldiscourse.scot

For further information on Time for Inclusive Education’s work and to access school services, visit tie.scot

This is an excerpt from an article published in Issue 7 of Insight.

Members can access the full issue, find out more here. 

Not a member? Click here for more information about membership

Non-members are also invited to subscribe for just £10 per year. To find out more about a digital subscription, email Sophie: sward@childreninscotland.org.uk

About the Author

Jordan Daly is Co-Founder and Director of Time for Inclusive Education

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Digital Discourse Initiative

Learn more about the work of Time for Inclusive Education and The Institute for Strategic Dialogue

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Insight magazine, Issue 7

The latest issue of our biannual member magazine, Insight, is out now

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Annual Conference 2025

Making Space for Voices: Join our Annual Conference in Glasgow on 28 and 29 May 2025

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