'By 2025...': The Views of Parents

29 May 2012, The Scottish Parliament

There is nothing more important to parents than the happiness, health and wellbeing of their children. Central to the concerns of any parent is that their child’s experience of the education system – how they learn, how they are supported and nurtured as they grow and develop – is the most positive and fulfilling it can be. School days really are the most important of a child’s life both in the classroom and beyond.

Scottish education is undergoing changes and there are undoubted challenges and opportunities in the immediate future. But from the perspective of parents, what would a world-leading learning society in Scotland in 2025 look like?

This workshop will explore the views of parents, the role of parents and the role of the state. The learning to come from this workshop will feed into the Goodison Group in Scotland and Scotland’s Futures Forum scenario project to be published in the Scottish Parliament at the end of 2012.

This workshop is a must for any parent interested in the future of education and learning in Scotland – come along to the Scottish Parliament and have your say! The invitation can be downloaded here.

Venue           Scottish Parliament
Registration  From 5.30 pm
Seminar        6.00 to 7.30 pm
Catering        Sandwich buffet will be provided

To register, email events@ggis.org.uk  - places are limited and will be given on a first come, first serve basis. There is no charge to attend.

'By 2025...': The Role of Teachers

27 April 2012, The Scottish Parliament

It has been said that while a mediocre teacher tells and a good teacher explains, a great teacher inspires. If Scotland is to be regarded as a world-leading learning nation in 2025 our classrooms need to be filled with great and inspiring teachers.

Of course, the job of a teacher is not an easy one. Nobody can doubt the difficulty in treating 30 people in a room with professional excellence for sustained periods of time when all 30 have different needs, learning styles, interest levels and behaviours.

But what will ‘teaching’ be in 2025 when Scotland is a world-leading learning nation?

This workshop explored the role of teachers in Scotland in 2025 and the kind of professional support they will require and expect. It also considered some of the opportunities and barriers in the coming years for the teaching community in Scotland.

Contributors

'A vision of the teaching profession of 2025', Professor Graham Donaldson, University of Glasgow [presentation slides .pdf]

'Teachers as learners in the 21st century':
Arlene Black, Head Teacher, Williamston Primary School, West Lothian [presentation slides .pdf]
Matthew Pearce, Depute Head Teacher, Bishopbriggs Academy, East Dunbartonshire [presentation slides .pdf]
Mari Wallace, Head Teacher & Sarah Clark, Depute Head Teacher, Isobel Mair School, East Renfrewshire

Concluding remarks, Don Ledingham, Director of Education and Children's Services, East Lothian Council and Midlothian Council

A report of the seminar will be published on this website in the coming weeks.

'By 2025...': An international perspective

30 March 2012, The Scottish Parliament

Geddes talked of thinking globally and acting locally. However, in today’s global village, surely we must be thinking and acting globally. If we are to properly explore the proposition that Scotland will be regarded as a world-leading learning nation by 2025, we need to be mindful of developments in other parts of the world and how Scotland can connect to those places. Very few of the problems Scotland faces are unique and we can learn much from countries where radical thinking is leading to new forms of learning, education and skills and economic benefits.

In this seminar, the project community heard about case studies from around the world – Ontario, Finland, Sweden and the USA – via a pre-recorded video conference held with the GGiS / SFF project team. (Click here to watch the recording in full.) Groups then discussed what lessons can be drawn for Scotland and for our project. A report of the seminar will be published on this website in the coming weeks.

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