Putting learners at the centre in Scotland

The Trust has contributed to a national discussion on major structural reform and a vision for the future of Scottish Education. The resulting report emphasises the role of learning outdoors and in wild places ‘in the lifelong journey of all learners’.

The John Muir Trust welcomes a report that puts children and young people at the heart of Scottish education. Professor Kenneth Muir’s Report Putting Learners at the Centre: Towards a Future Vision of Scottish Education recognises the broad attainment mix that is essential for building skills for life, learning and work - and that recognises climate change is a key driver for learning with current and future generations. 

Following publication of the report, major structural reform is planned, alongside a national discussion on the vision for the future of Scottish Education. The needs of children, young people and teachers who support their learning will be at the heart of the reform, alongside a simplification of the landscape and more joined up coherence in policy.

The John Muir Trust participated in the consultation, highlighting the importance of: promoting Learning for Sustainability* (including Outdoor Learning) as an entitlement for all learners; and of embedding this within professional standards for teachers, youth workers and community learning and development workers.

Professor Muir’s report emphasises ‘the need for the development of values, attitudes, knowledge and skills to be significantly strengthened in the context of Learning for Sustainability’. It recognises ‘the current generation of learners see climate change as one of the most significant issues facing their futures and, as such, must be recognised as a key driver influencing the future of our education system’. It also highlights the role of outdoor learning ‘in the lifelong journey of learners by all children’.

The John Muir Award is well regarded as a flexible framework to take learning outdoors and an important contribution to learners’ entitlement to Learning for Sustainability. It is inclusive and enables learners to build their own connections with nature, take practical action to care for wild places and advocate for climate and nature. 

Participating in the John Muir Award felt bigger than simply getting outside.  We became much more aware of nature issues, like biodiversity, and it was good to do something about it.

Learner, Tynecastle High School

The John Muir Trust, as an active member of the Awards Network in Scotland, has been involved in influencing policy and raising awareness of the importance of wider achievement through Awards and the role that youthwork, community learning and development and the third sector offer in wider curriculum and learning opportunities. 

The Trust welcomes Professor Muir’s recommendation to develop the Scottish Government’s insight tool to support the learner journey with academic and non-formal qualifications and awards having ‘parity of esteem’.  This continues a transition away from education being measured primarily through exam results and gives greater weighting to personal achievements e.g. vocational skills and awards.

It’s important that we can offer our pupils different pathways to learning. Awards such as the John Muir Award can inspire pupils – this brings their learning to life which will only benefit their attainment.

Linda Howie, Social Subjects & History teacher, Tynecastle High School

Notes

• The Trust’s Curriculum for Excellence and John Muir Award resource brings together joined up thinking and demonstrates how practitioners in Scotland can use wild places to meet young people’s needs and a range of education priorities.  
• *​Learning for Sustainability is a cross-curricular approach to creating coherent, rewarding and transformative learning experiences. It’s all about learners, educators, schools and their wider communities building a socially-just, sustainable and equitable society. It supports an effective whole-school and community approach by weaving together global citizenship, sustainable development education, and outdoor learning.