For the first time pupils across Scotland, from age 3 to 18, will have the opportunity to study Film and Screen as a practical arts subject.
Screen Scotland, with Education Scotland and Scottish Government has officially launched the national rollout of Film and Screen into Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence.
Over the last three years, Screen Scotland has devised, designed and delivered a programme to test and evaluate the Film and Screen Curriculum, a curriculum for every level of formal Scottish Education for learners age 3 to 18. Schools in 30 local authority areas across Scotland, including Shetland, Scottish Borders, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dumfries and Galloway and Angus have been involved in this globally unique programme delivered to over 6000 children across early years, primary and secondary education.
Fi Milligan-Rennie, Head of Education - Screen at Screen Scotland said: “Screen Scotland’s film and screen curriculum creates democracy of opportunity for every child and young person to learn about the film and screen industries in Scotland, to understand how it works and most importantly to recognise that they can be part of it. Filmmaking, making television programmes or content online requires the ability to tell stories well, to persuade colleagues to work with you, to gather resources and plan ahead. It builds confidence and we have seen across the development period the tremendous positive impacts it has already had for pupils across Scotland.
“It is thanks to the enthusiasm, commitment and willingness to creatively experiment from schools across the country that we can now celebrate Film and Screen as a subject in its own right.”
The curriculum is endorsed by some of Scotland’s key acting, filmmaking and presenting talent, including James MacAvoy, Lucy Halliday, Mark Bonnar, Julie Wilson Nimmo, Edith Bowman, Chloe Pirrie, Martin Compston, Dougray Scott, Sanjeev Kohli, Mark Cousins and Lauren Lyle.
Neil Millar from Education Scotland said: “Over the last three years I have been proud to work with, and support, the inspiring work that has been undertaken in creating and facilitating the draft Film and Screen Curriculum across Scotland. From the outset, the educational and social impact of the pilot Film and Screen curriculum on schools, teachers and most importantly pupils, has been immense. The proof of this is in the curriculum work developed and showcased by the children and young people themselves.”
Laura Heggie, Teacher at Graeme High School said: “I’ve been so impressed…by how much the curriculum gives pupils ownership over their own learning. They’re so engaged and want to get it right that they are working and challenging each other within their film crews. I can hear them critiquing each other’s work and offering suggestions to improve as I walk round the room. This is unprompted by me. The development in their confidence and ability to contribute has really grown...as they have moved to working within the production groups.”
Kian McLear, S5 pupil at Drummond Community High School said: “Film and Screen has allowed me to express creativity with my fellow classmates, as well as giving me an in interest in the film industry as a whole. There's a very good balance between practical work and analysis, and there's never any lessons or practical tasks that drag on."
James MacAvoy, Actor and Director said: “Teaching film and screen in schools is the most equitable way to engage in an art form, while demystifying something that can seem distant or inaccessible. It’s not just about the next generations of Scottish filmmakers, it’s about understanding the creative right to be seen and heard and making the space and time for that to happen, for every child in Scotland.”
Julie Wilson-Nimmo, Actor said: “I’m so happy that the Film and Screen curriculum is going on the school curriculum, when I was a young girl growing up in East Kilbride and I went to see my favourite film of all time Gregory’s Girl, I never thought I could be a part of that world, as an actor or behind the camera. The fact nursery, primary and secondary kids will be able to tap into this on their school curriculum is amazing. I’m 100% behind it.”
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “The arts are vital to the success of Scotland’s young people, inspiring them to develop a wide range of skills – film and screen learning is very much part of this story.
“The initial Film and Screen pilots demonstrated the innovation that lies at the heart of Scotland’s curriculum. This further roll out of support and advice to teachers across Scotland will help to support the continued growth of film and screen learning in our classrooms.”
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “I’m delighted to welcome this world-first curriculum, which brings the magic of film and screen to the classroom for learners of all ages. In addition to encouraging untapped creativity, it will be instrumental in the career development of the next generation of Scottish film and screen talent.
“The Scottish Government is clear that a skilled, diverse workforce is essential to the continued success of our screen sector, which is set to be worth £1 billion to Scotland’s economy by 2030. Working with Screen Scotland, we are investing in Scottish skills and talent to ensure Scottish voices are represented throughout the production journey, and that this growth leaves a legacy of an ever-stronger crew base across Scotland.”
Background
The Film and Screen Curriculum is available as part of the Curriculum for Excellence from Wednesday 10 September 2025.
As part of the curriculum testing phase of the project, Screen Scotland has built-up the expertise within Scotland’s schools to deliver the curriculum by completing a screen educators in residence programme to embed filmmakers in schools to test the draft curriculum as well as running two summer schools to support development of knowledge and skills for teachers to deliver film and screen learning in their settings.
As outlined in its strategy launched last year, Screen Scotland’s principal objective is to develop and grow the Film and TV sectors in Scotland. We work to develop a critical mass of production infrastructure, skills and production, and a vibrant local culture in order that people can choose to live and work in Scotland throughout their careers.
Screen Scotland believes that the development of Scotland’s future screen sector begins with education, and that education is, long term, the best route to improve and widen diversity and inclusion across our sector. We believe that every child and young person in Scotland should have the opportunity to make or collaborate in the making of film during their formal education.
Film and Screen Education as part of the Scottish Curriculum means the opportunity to learn about all aspects of the creative, critical and cultural components of Film and Screen making as well as supporting understanding of how Film and Screen engages, represents and reflects the self and the community.
Next steps
Screen Scotland will continue to support this work through a number of targeted initiatives and funding opportunities as follows:
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Peripatetic Screen Educator Programme is part of the wider work Screen Scotland is doing to expand the reach of the Draft Film and Screen Curriculum in Scotland.
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Curriculum Support Programme is a targeted initiative of bespoke support available to teachers who have participated in the Screen Scotland Summer Schools in 2024 and 2025.
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Film and Screen Award Training in partnership with SQA offers a programme of training events for schools and teachers delivering the Film and Screen Award.
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Training for teachers delivering the Draft Film and Screen Curriculum in their settings and online.
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Pathways to second subject registration in Film and Screen in development, designed to support eligibility for teachers to apply to the General Teaching Council Scotland for second subject registration in Film and Screen.
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An ongoing programme of industry visits to schools involved in delivery of the Draft Film and Screen Curriculum.
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A Project Based Learning Programme delivered in partnership with industry professionals and Screen Scotland.
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An ongoing programme of collaborative international work building on the partnership between schools in Scotland and New York City.
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A plan to collaborate with schools, communities and participatory Film and Screen organisations to develop a non-formal education engagement framework for out of school activity which complements the Draft Film and Screen Curriculum.
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Training for Scotland-based institutions delivering Early Years Education and Primary ITE on the Draft Film and Screen Curriculum and its implementation in early years and primary school settings.
About Screen Scotland
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 LinkedIn and Instagram.
About Education Scotland
Education Scotland is a Scottish Government executive agency charged with supporting quality and improvement in Scottish education and thereby securing the delivery of better learning experiences and outcomes for Scottish learners of all ages. Education Scotland’s chief executive is responsible to Scottish ministers, within the terms of the framework document, for its management, performance, and future development.
Media Contact
Eilidh Walker
Media Relations and PR Officer - Screen
M: +44 (0)7545 402 064