The RSE Education Committee was established in 2009 and through the Committee the RSE identifies and promotes priorities for education in Scotland.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For further information about the work of the RSE Education Committee, please contact William Hardie or telephone 0131 240 5031.