A Film and Screen Curriculum for Scotland

Designing the Curriculum

Screen Scotland aim to embed a film and screen curriculum across Scottish education from early years to senior phase, situated within the Expressive Arts curriculum. In July 2022, a symposium, hosted and facilitated by Screen Scotland, was attended by academics, professionals from across early years, primary, secondary and tertiary education, and screen access and education practitioners, joined by colleagues from the SQA, Scottish Government and Education Scotland. A draft Film and Screen curriculum was developed, detailing content for each age and stage of school education.

Screen Educator in Residence pilot programme

The Screen Educator in Residence (SEIR) programme will place screen practitioners in schools within five Scottish local authorities who will test and evaluate the draft Film and Screen Curriculum for Scotland and support the integration of film and screen as an expressive art into the national school curriculum. Film and Screen as an expressive art focuses on enabling pupils to make a film, rather than solely study the history or theory of film. This is core to Screen Scotland’s work to widen participation in film and screen production, cultivate a skilled screen workforce, and develop the screen professionals needed to carry forward Scotland’s film culture.

The programme, which is free to schools, will run from February 2023 to June 2024 and engage with each stage from early years to senior phase. A 24-credit Film and Screen Award for Levels Five and Six is being developed by SQA in collaboration with Screen Scotland.

The Screen Educator in Residence programme is managed by Station House Media Unit with support from the education team at Screen Scotland. Mindful of the position of flux across Scottish education, Screen Scotland are working closely with SQA and Education Scotland colleagues to ensure a collaborative and responsive approach.