Education Policy

RSE Education Committee

The RSE Education Committee was established in 2009 and through the Committee the RSE identifies and promotes priorities for education in Scotland.

Remit

The Education Committee:

Is concerned with all aspects of education in Scotland, and at all stages;
Considers education initiatives or proposals and advises RSE Council on how the Society should respond to these, particularly those from Government;
Organises, where appropriate, events that stimulate debate on educational issues.
Is proactive in identifying and promoting priorities for education in Scotland;
Liaises, where appropriate, with other relevant groups, including other Society Committees.

Committee Activity

There are a number of major reforms underway in Scottish education, not least the continuing implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and the new national qualifications in Scotland, on which the Committee has actively engaged with policy-makers. RSE education-related papers and consultation responses are available from here.

Review of Curriculum for Excellence

The RSE Education Committee has been concerned about the absence of a strategy for independent evaluation of the Curriculum for Excellence reforms.

The RSE has engaged with the Scottish Government on its proposals for commissioning the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to review the Curriculum for Excellence. An RSE statement on its position in relation to the review is available here.

The RSE has collated materials relating to the development and implementation of Curriculum for Excellence which have been submitted to the OECD reviewers. Our submission to the OECD is available here.

Teaching and Learning Resources

In collaboration with others, the RSE has produced resources to support the teaching of Chemistry and Computing Science in Scottish schools. The Computing Science and Chemistry exemplification materials are freely available.

Education Committee Membership

Keir Bloomer FRSE (Convener)

Professor Alan Alexander OBE FRSE, RSE General Secretary

Professor Anne Anderson OBE FRSE, Vice-Principal, University of Glasgow

Eileen Brown, Quality Improvement Manager, South Ayrshire Council

Dr Janet Brown FRSE (Observer), Chief Executive, SQA

Professor David Cole-Hamilton FRSE, School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews

Audrey Cumberford, Principal, West College Scotland

Professor Graham Donaldson CB, Education Consultant

Jackie Ebsworth, Head Teacher, Alloa Academy

Dr Giles Hammond (RSE Young Academy Observer), School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow

Dr Patrick Harkness (RSE Young Academy Observer), School of Engineering, University of Glasgow

Professor Martin Hendry MBE FRSE, Head of School of Physics, University of Glasgow

David Mitchell, Former Head Teacher, Bo'ness Academy

Professor Stuart Monro OBE FRSE, Former Scientific Director, Our Dynamic Earth

Professor Petra Wend FRSE, Principal, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

The Education Committee also maintains links with the Learned Societies' Group on Scottish Science Education (which is facilitated by the RSE) and the RSE Young Academy of Scotland Excellence in Education working group.

Contact

For further information about the work of the RSE Education Committee, please contact William Hardie or telephone 0131 240 5031.