The Scottish Education System
Education is managed by the Scottish Government as it is a devolved matter.
The education system in Scotland differs significantly from those in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
For Armed Forces families moving to Scotland, this may mean encountering unfamiliar practices and structures.
The Scottish Government provides overarching guidelines for education but grants schools the flexibility to determine the specific content of their lessons. In Scotland, the term 'curriculum' encompasses all planned educational experiences for children and young people, extending beyond just classroom instruction to include the broader scope of their learning journey.
Schools are required to include four core subjects in their curriculum: Health and Wellbeing, Literacy, Numeracy, and Religious and Moral Education (RME).
Beyond these core subjects, schools have the flexibility to:
- implement projects that integrate skills and knowledge from multiple subjects, fostering Interdisciplinary Learning (IDL).
- incorporate local people and places, relevant to their local community, into the curriculum.
- engage students in exploring topics they are passionate about.
Getting It Right For Every Child
Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) is a national framework used by schools and teachers in Scotland to support the wellbeing of children and young people. As an Armed Forces parent, it's important to understand GIRFEC, as it is a fundamental part of how we provide support within our education system.
GIRFEC focuses on offering personalised support to ensure children and young people receive the appropriate help at the right time from the right sources. Schools can provide direct assistance and, with parental consent, may also refer learners to additional services if needed.
Wellbeing is central to the GIRFEC approach, recognising that a child's overall environment impacts their ability to achieve their goals. GIRFEC aims to achieve positive outcomes for children under the Wellbeing Indicators: Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible and Included. This approach emphasises the education of the 'whole child,' balancing academic attainment with the overall wellbeing of the child. This balance is supported through the Curriculum for Excellence, which ensures a comprehensive educational experience.
East Lothian Council Education team operates a GIRFEC in East Lothian site, please us the following link to access information on the full range of support services
See Forces Children’s Education’s Understanding the Scottish Education System for more information.
See Parent Zone for more information about the Scottish Curriculum, including assessments.
UK Qualifications Comparisons Chart
Getting it Right for Every Child - Scottish Government
Get to know the SCQF : A guide for parents and carers
Age Banding
In Scotland, children typically begin primary school between the ages of four-and-a-half and five-and-a-half. The start date depends on the timing of their fifth birthday:
- If their birthday is between 1 March and the first day of term in August, they must start school at the start of the autumn term (August) in the year they turn five.
- If your child's birthday falls between the first day of school term and the end of February, they may start school at the beginning of the autumn term (mid-August) but for this group of children parents may choose to defer their child's entry by a year.
- Click here for more information.
Young people in Scotland can leave school at the age of 16. A young person who turns 16 between 1 March and 30 September (inclusive) can leave school after 31 May of that school year. Young people born between 1 October and the end of February can leave school at the start of the winter break (Christmas holidays) in late December of that school year.
Use the birth date and year group tracker provided below to determine the correct primary or secondary class for your child.