New Schools Fund to Expand Film and Screen Education across Scotland 

Work to embed film and screen education within the Scottish schools’ curriculum took a step forward today with the launch of new funding from Screen Scotland.  

Available to early years, primary and secondary schools, the new Schools Screen Education Fund has been created to support programmes of work with the potential to develop increased understanding of the potential of screen education and support the provision of screen education and the new curriculum in a school setting.    

Schools can apply for grants up to £5000 to test an element of the draft Film and Screen curriculum with classes from Early Years to S3, or to design and deliver screen education projects for schools.    

Also going live today, is Screen Scotland’s refreshed Screen Education Fund which offers grants of between £500 - £20,000 to projects that support the provision of screen education in a variety of formal, informal and non-formal settings - schools, colleges, universities, cinemas, film festivals, libraries, media access centres and Local Authorities - aimed at developing increased understanding of the potential of screen education.    

Fi Milligan-Rennie, Head of Education - Screen at Screen Scotland said: “Developing 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. 

“At the same time, the values and benefits of film and screen education reach far beyond careers.  Engagement in film and screen activity strengthens fusion skills, supports attainment in other subjects and improves health and wellbeing.  Film and Screen is the dominant language of our culture and Screen Scotland is committed to ensuring the democracy of opportunity to learn that language.”  

Today’s launch takes place in tandem with Screen Scotland’s Screen Educators in Residence Programme. Over the past months, Screen Educators have been deep at work in primary and secondary schools in Argyll and Bute, Dundee, Edinburgh, Inverness and Shetland, testing the draft curriculum; trialling new learning and hands-on opportunities to develop students understanding, appreciation and practical knowledge of film and screen production.     

Welcomed by Scotland’s Educators, independent production companies and Scottish screen stars like Outlander’s Sam Heughan, the ultimate aim of the two-year pilot programme is to introduce film and screen within the Scottish curriculum from Early Years through to Senior Phase, including a qualification. 

Find out more about the Schools Screen Education Fund and how to apply on our Schools Screen Education Fund webpage.

Find out more about the Screen Education Fund and how to apply on our Screen Education Fund webpage.


More information

Screen Scotland drives development of all aspects of Scotland’s film and TV industry, through funding and strategic support. Screen Scotland is part of Creative Scotland and delivers these services and support with funding from Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Find out more at screen.scot and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.  

Media Contact

Eilidh Walker  
Media Relations and PR Officer- Screen  
M: +447545 402 064 
[email protected]