Island Communities Impact Assessment for the establishment of the Centre for Teaching Excellence

Develop A Clear Understanding of Your Objectives

The Centre for Teaching Excellence (‘the Centre’) has been established in response to evidence from national reviews of Scottish education – including Professor Muir’s report on reform of national education bodies and the National Discussion on Education – which highlighted the centrality of teachers’ professional expertise and the importance of sustained improvement in learning, teaching and assessment.

Putting Learners at the Centre: Towards a Future Vision for Scotland Education

All Learners in Scotland Matter - National discussion on education: final report

Announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills in October 2023, the Centre’s core objective is to support all registered teachers in Scotland, including those working in Gaelic Medium Education (GME) and in remote, rural and island communities, to engage with research and evidence in ways that strengthen and develop their pedagogical practice.

The intended outcomes of the Centre are to:

• Support teachers to develop and deepen their pedagogical expertise through critical reflection and engagement with high‑quality research, theory and practice drawn from Scotland and international contexts.
• Strengthen connections between higher education, research and classroom practice, ensuring that professional learning opportunities are relevant, accessible and responsive to different educational settings.
• Foster collaborative professional learning communities that contribute to improved child and young persons’ outcomes, consistent with Scotland’s vision of excellence and equity in education.
• Ensure that professional learning and research engagement opportunities are available on a national and equitable basis, including through digital and hub‑based delivery models that mitigate geographical barriers.

In line with the Centre’s EQIA, the design and delivery of the Centre’s activities place a strong emphasis on equity of access. While the Centre’s aims and outcomes are consistent across Scotland, delivery mechanisms are intended to be flexible and inclusive, recognising that island communities may experience different contextual challenges such as geography, connectivity, scale and workforce capacity.

The Centre’s national reach, including the establishment of a GME research hub based in Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isles of Skye, is intended to strengthen access to professional learning, research networks and opportunities for leadership and collaboration, across Scotland. The hub provides an important resource for supporting the specific cultural and linguistic context of GME. While this is expected to improve accessibility for many teachers, some barriers may continue to be experienced by those in island and remote communities, particularly where travel and geographical factors remain a challenge.

In addition, Centre’s online activities will ensure equitable access to resources and engagement opportunities, with each research hub supported by a dedicated website and teacher portal. These digital platforms will enable teachers, regardless of location, to connect with research, professional learning and collaborative networks, including through webinars, virtual learning events, practitioner enquiry groups, online communities of practice, and access to digital research outputs and teaching resources.