Independent Commission for Land-Based Learning - review and implementation plan: SG response - progress report
Progress of the actions in response to all the recommendations from the Review of Land-Based Learning in the 12 months since the Scottish Government response report was published.
Recommendation 2:
Establish clear progressive experiences for nature-based learning and climate literacy across all levels of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE).
Output
Work by Education Scotland, Keep Scotland Beautiful, other public bodies and stakeholders to facilitate experiences for nature-based learning and climate literacy across CfE.
Implementing Actions
Education Scotland has developed a dedicated Learning for Sustainability (LfS) themed webpage that will provide examples of LfS in practice, including content on nature-based activities. Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) continues to deliver their Climate Actions Schools programme which includes content on nature and climate literacy. LfS is one of the core competencies that is being looked at as part of the curriculum improvement cycle.
Progress Update
Through our refreshed Learning for Sustainability Action Plan we have committed to embedding Learning for Sustainability, which includes nature-based learning and climate literacy across all levels on the Curriculum. This ties into several of the Actions, most notably in Actions 1 and 10-12.
Through the ongoing work of Scotland’s Curriculum Improvement Cycle we are continuing to consider how to better align cross-curricular themes, such as Learning for Sustainability, with subject areas. We are considering how this relates to the relevance of curriculum content, role of knowledge, transitions between primary and secondary and alignment between Board General Education and the Senior Phase.
Education Scotland have developed their online portal for LfS.
Milestones
Embed this activity into the Learning for Sustainability refreshed Action Plan actions and milestones - complete.
Commencement of Curriculum Improvement Cycle from December 2023 - complete.
Education Scotland to launch LfS online portal Autumn 2024 - complete.
Recommendation 2.1:
Identify ways to support an increase in Sector school/college partnership learning pathways, offered and undertaken by schools.
Output
Desk-based research, mapping out the current land-based and aquaculture learning pathways.
A workshop with stakeholders to identify good practice and barriers.
A paper, collating evidence and identifying ways to support an increase in sector school/college and other partnerships.
Education Scotland engagement on key lessons learned with schools and colleges on land-based and aquaculture learning pathways.
Implementing Actions
Preliminary research, reaching out to key partners, to map the land-based and aquaculture learning pathways which currently exist across Scotland.
Present research to Education Scotland’s Learner Pathways co-design group and undertake discussion on what’s working well – why is it working well? What barriers are being faced in other areas?
Production of paper to support improvement.
Education Scotland to engage schools/colleges nationally on the issue.
Progress Update
Education Scotland and Scottish Government are in the process of reviewing the evidence gathered for the original report to identify any gaps in data before going out to stakeholders, working towards completing the first milestone before progressing work on the remainder.
Milestones
Research and discussions with key stakeholders to understand what learner pathways are already available for land-based learning, July – October 2024.
Education Scotland to convene the meeting of the Learner Pathways Co-Design Group to present findings of preliminary research and undertake a fuller discussion of the barriers and opportunities that currently exist in relation to sector specific pathways.
Production of a paper following workshop discussions including actions to support an increase in sector specific school/college partnerships where this is in line with regional economic needs and the college’s strategic planning.
Education Scotland to take forward the suggestions in the paper.
The first milestone is likely to be complete by September 2025. Other milestones will follow sequentially.
Recommendation 2.2:
Provide ongoing Career Long Professional Learning (CLPL) support for school-based staff and volunteers across all education authorities, supported by education providers to improve their knowledge and understanding of the opportunities within the Sector. Include practical training in supporting learning in the natural environment.
Output
Career Long Professional Learning (CLPL) support provided to staff and volunteers in education authorities. This will include practical training in supporting learning in the natural environment.
Implementing Actions
Education Scotland has established the Learning for Sustainability (LfS) Peer Mentor Network with 25+ mentors recruited from a range of sectors, backgrounds and local authorities. In the 6 week pilot period, over 97 engagements were undertaken reaching some 600+ practitioners across 20 local authorities. The next phase of the programme for Financial Year 2024/25 has commenced.
Education Scotland has developed a dedicated online LfS themed webpage that will provide examples of LfS in practice, including signposting educators to professional learning opportunities.
Progress Update
CLPL has been embedded in the refreshed LfS Action Plan, specifically through Actions 21-25.
The next phase of the Peer Mentor Network for Financial Year 2024/25 has commenced.
The Education Scotland LfS themed webpage is now live - Learning for Sustainability | Resource Themes | Education Scotland
Milestones
Embed this activity into the Learning for Sustainability refreshed Action Plan actions and milestones - complete.
Next phase of LfS Mentor programme underway in 2024/25 - complete.
Education Scotland to launch LfS themed webpage Autumn 2024 - complete.
Contact
Email: ruralpolicymailbox@gov.scot