Scotland's Learning Estate Strategy: "Connecting People, Places and Learning"

1. Foreword

Scotland’s vision is clear: to provide the opportunities and skills for everyone to thrive from early years, schools, colleges, and universities through to lifelong learning. Supporting children, young people and learners of all ages to reach their full potential in life and work is not just a goal; it’s a national priority.

Our learning estate is central to this ambition. Since 2007, the Scottish Government, local government and our other partners have invested significantly to improve the spaces and places where learning happens. These environments are evolving to meet the needs of learners today and tomorrow.

These buildings do more than house learning; they enhance it and remove barriers to learners’ attainment, achievement and participation. They support curriculum delivery, strengthen community ties, connect with public services, embrace digital innovation and encourage parental engagement. Together, they enrich the learner journey and contribute to Scotland’s success.

As we celebrate and learn from these achievements, we also need to continue to look ahead. Since the Strategy was first launched, things have changed around us, and these factors need to inform the way forward. The COVID-19 pandemic, global financial instability, increasing need for learning support, technology advancements, demographic shifts and a drive for even greater inclusivity all need to be reflected in our vision for the learning estate.

To provide the best long-term value and impact for public resources, we need to consider sustainability in its widest sense. This should include a needs-based assessment of space requirements, whole life energy consumption, embodied carbon, suitability, utilisation, emissions and climate adaptation. Every decision about the future of the learning estate should be informed by these factors.

It is vital that we continually assess the opportunities for work and driving growth in our economy, and we must continue to use our learning estate to equip all learners with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Collaboration remains key and placing the learning estate at the heart of our communities, and adopting a more integrated approach, will help us deliver better outcomes and drive sustainable, inclusive growth.

We are excited to continue this journey in partnership, working together to realise Scotland’s learning ambitions.

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills

CoSLA Children & Young People spokesperson