Curriculum and Assessment Board Meeting minutes: September 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Andy Harvey, National Official, Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS)
• Brianna Fletcher, Policy Manager, CoSLA
• Clare Hicks, Co-Chair, Director for Education Reform, Scottish Government 
• Curriculum and Assessment Board Secretariat, Scottish Government 
• David Barnett, General Secretary, School Leaders Scotland (SLS)
• Donna Stewart, Director of Qualifications Scotland (QS)
• Erica Russell Hensens , Deputy Director, Student Interests, Access and Quality, Scottish Funding Council, (SFC)

• Gavin Yates, Executive Director Connect, Scottish Assembly of Parents and Carers (SAPC)
• Gill Mann, Interim Head of NQ Policy, Qualifications Scotland (QS)
• James McKean, Policy Officer, Colleges Scotland

• Tom Harley, Skills Development Scotland (SDS)
• John Guidi, District Secretary, Renfrewshire, Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA)
• Kirsty Forrester, Vice Chair, CLD Managers Scotland (CLD Manager, Dundee City Council)
• Lewis Hedge, Co-Chair, Deputy Director, Curriculum and Qualifications, Scottish Government 
• Michelle Mulgrew, Chief Executive, Early Years Scotland
• Nik James, National Official, National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) 
• Ollie Bray, Strategic Director, Education Scotland
• Professor Louise Hayward, Professor of Educational Assessment and Innovation, Academic Representative, University of Glasgow
• Sarah Sinclair, Head of Professional Learning, Scottish Council of Independent Schools, (SCIS)
• Scottish Government officials, Curriculum and Qualifications / Education Reform Divisions
• Stewart Nicolson, Chair of the Curriculum, Assessment and Qualifications Network, Association of Directors of Education (ADES)
• Tim Wallace, Vice President, Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS)

Apologies

• Alasdair Smith, Head of Service, Policy, HNVQ Policy, Qualifications Scotland (QS)
• Julie MacDonald, Vice President, School Leaders Scotland (SLS)
• Marie Hendry, Chief Executive, College Development Network
• Professor Mark Priestley, Professor of Education, Academic Representative, University of Stirling
• Tina Harrison, Deputy Vice-Principal Students, University of Edinburgh
• James Russell, Director of CIAG Operations, Skills Development Scotland (SDS)

Items and actions

Welcome and introduction (Lewis Hedge, Co-Chair)

The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed as accurate.

Results day 2025 update (Donna Stewart, Qualifications Scotland)

Key points included

• headlines, overview at various levels, coverage of vocational and technical qualifications
• creation of a schools unit – say why?
• grade boundaries and grade boundary adjustments
• examples from english and mathematics
• dual entries
• teacher estimates vs. outcomes, candidate estimates vs outcomes
• appeals
• reforming qualifications at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level 4 and 5 (medium-long term) practical woodwork and cake craft no written paper going forward

Attendees discussed

• dual presentation as an issue to explore further
• vocational and technical qualifications being given a platform in communications around results day was important
• there was an increase in vocational and technical qualifications and all other awards including highers
• the developing criteria for “rationalisation” or review of qualification type

Language of assessment (Gill Mann, Qualifications Scotland)

• a subgroup of Curriculum Assessment Board (CAB) to be put together later this year to consider the language of assessment
• there will possibly be an agenda item at the December Curriculum Assessment Board (CAB), with a focus on language of assessment
• the group were asked to consider draft definitions relating to assessment methods. This was discussed in groups and feedback shared with Qualifications Scotland (QS)

Action – Secretariat to arrange a slot for Language of assessment item at an upcoming meeting of Curriculum Assessment Board (CAB) 11 December 2025.

June’s timeline publication

• A summary of the timeline publication was provided:  Curriculum, Qualifications and Assessment Reform – Timeline - Curriculum, Qualifications and Assessment Reform: progress to date and next steps

Reflections from the CAB on the timeline

• Curriculum Assessment Board (CAB) members were interested to know the next steps regarding a leaving certificate

Monitoring and evaluation - Theory of change (Lewis Hedge, Co-Chair)

A presentation was provided, it included information about the project background and timeline, the process so far and next steps including upcoming evaluation of the education reform process.

Attendees discussed

• the board were interested to know what happens with the ongoing nature of policy and evaluation, how do we close the loop, e.g. is this an ongoing process or an iterative process

Action - Curriculum Asessment Board (CAB) would welcome the opportunity to consider a broader timeline including other strands of reform. Secretariat to arrange a suitable timeslot for this on the agenda at an upcoming meeting.

Develop a shared education reform communications plan – workshop (Graham Thomson, Scottish Government)

• Curriculum Assessment Board (CAB) were presented with a draft core narrative for Education Reform
• attendees were invited to discuss and consider a shared education reform communications plan, they provided feedback on several key topics: overarching narrative, key audiences and timeline

Education reform update (Clare Hicks, Co-chair)

• both the Education Reform Act and Gaelic and Scots Languages Act have received royal ascent. Summary update provided on both
• the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills has appointed former headteacher John Wilson as an independent advisor on reform. He will provide advice on future activities for government to consider
• the Centre for Teaching Excellence (CfTE) formally launched on 3 September 2025. An event took place at Glasgow university marking the launch. Immediate areas of focus include pedagogy to support diverse needs of classroom; innovation of pedagogy to support classroom practise; also, digital and AI pedagogy
• the Rural Education and Learning for Sustainability Hub is based in the Dumfries campus of University of Glasgow, at the School of Social and Environmental Sustainability
• the Gaelic Education Hub is based at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Isle of Skye and provides research-informed support and activities – in-person and digitally – for teachers working in Gaelic education throughout Scotland

Education scotland – Curriculum improvement cycle (Ollie Bray)

• 1 October 2025 marks one year since the public launch of the Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC)

• the group were provided with a summary update on the cycle, including: the stages of the cycle, Project Structure, timelines for various stages e.g. Co-Creation of Evolved Curriculum, and considering how we engage with the profession and other stakeholder groups effectively
• an update on meeting 31 agenda item regarding Curriculum Assessment Board (CAB) consideration of cross-curricular Themes and Skills will be brought to the board at a future date
• a summary was also provided on the work of the Curriculum Assesment Board (CAB) Subgroup, and 4 proposed upcoming meetings of the group

• information was also provided in regard to the interdependencies of this work, including policy alignment, digital learning and teaching strategy and the wider skills policy landscape

Reflections from CAB

• there are messages which could go out into the system to provide reassurance around the cycle, and these could emphasise and clarify what is expected to remain the same, and what is expected to change. These messages could include a message about the meaning and purpose of the work and should avoid the use of jargon or overused terminology
• it was suggested that there hasn’t been a 3-18 curriculum before, and that is a different message which needs to be delivered to those who are working to teach the senior phase. This will be a big change for senior phase practitioners vs. the current delivery where a minority of subjects are delivered across 3-18
• we currently have a system that is rigid to deliver national courses by subject area, e.g. a maths teacher delivers maths, what happens for the delivery of courses that don’t fall into one specific subject area

Action - CAB members wanted to ensure GTCS and HMIE attendance at upcoming meetings. Secretariat to follow up ahead of the next meeting.  

Scottish government – Update on online learning (Lewis Hedge, co-chair)

A presentation was given to facilitate discussion about the role of online learning in schools​. This included consideration of policy and strategic alignment, the timeline, current online learning landscape in Scotland, types of online learning.

• Curriculum Assessment Board (CAB) were invited to consider and discuss: Current Provision, and to carry out a SWOT analysis, they also discussed what future demand will look like
• the next steps include setting up a working group to consider issues in depth over the coming month, and to write a review and share with curriculum assessment board (CAB) before the end of the year
• this item will return to Curriculum Assesment Board (CAB) again for further discussion

Feedback and reflections from attendee Q&A after group discussions

• the array of things to consider is very wide, and means different things to different stakeholders
• important to consider the role of online delivery in its impact on in-person teaching: this should be explored as a standalone in depth item
• if we are talking about the provision of devices in schools, how can we prevent their misuse
• important to acknowledge that many online tutors are teachers, important to understand why tutors are needed as part of understanding the landscape as a whole
• consideration must be given to the increase in workload for staff: e.g. in taking time to find online resources
• governance of this piece of work is important as a lot is going on in the sector already, where does it sit in terms of connection within the wider work already going on, e.g. reviews of glow and wider digital strategy

Any other business and closing remarks (Clare Hicks, Co-Chair)

The chair thanked members for their attendance and input. It was confirmed that the next meeting will be on the 11 December 2025.