The Draft Film and Screen Curriculum
In July 2022, Screen Scotland Education Team invited practitioners from Early Years Education, Primary and Secondary Schools, Further and Higher Education Institutions, Film and Screen Educators, the SQA, Education Scotland, the BFI, the Scottish Film and Screen Industry and Scottish Government to attend a symposium to develop the framework for a Draft Film and Screen Curriculum. Facilitated by Screen Scotland, practitioners worked in groups on specific levels of education. Over the following three years, Screen Scotland developed, delivered, tested and evaluated a Draft Film and Screen Curriculum for Scotland.
Dreach Churraicealam Film is Sgrìn ann an Gàidhlig
Tha Sgrìn Alba air prògram a dhealbhadh agus a lìbhrigeadh gus Dreach Churraicealam Film is Sgrìn a dhearbhadh agus a mheasadh ann an suidheachaidhean foghlaim tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig do sgoilearan aois 3-18, ann an com-pàirteachas le Astar Media. Tha sgoiltean ann an Glaschu agus Comhairle nan Eilean Siar air a bhith an sàs le seo, agus Alba a’ chiad dùthaich a-riamh a rinn iomairt mar seo – sa Ghàidhlig no sa Bheurla.
Testing the Draft Film and Screen Curriculum
Testing and evaluation of the First Edition Draft Film and Screen Curriculum was key to ensuring that its content was appropriate and deliverable in Early Years and School settings This took place across three phases:
Phase One
Delivery and testing in Shetland and Argyll and Bute took place in Early Years and Primary settings, and in Early Years, Primary and Secondary settings in Highland and Dundee delivered by Screen Educators in Residence (SEiRs) in partnership with class teachers.
In parallel with Phase One, a new pilot qualification, the SQA Film and Screen Award at SCQF Levels Five and Six, was devised and developed by SQA, Screen Scotland, education and industry.
Phase Two
Delivery and testing took place in secondary settings Shetland, Highland, Dundee, Argyll and Bute and Edinburgh, Scottish Borders (with Alchemy Film and Arts). Beginning in June 2023, SEiRs delivered the Draft Film and Screen Curriculum to Secondary School Learners in S1 to S6. Phase two included delivery of the pilot SQA Film and Screen Award at each school, at SCQF Level Five and Level Six.
Phase Three
Delivery and testing took place across thirty local authorities in Scotland by teachers who attended the Screen Scotland Summer School, a programme which taught the art of filmmaking, and the skills required to deliver film and screen learning in the classroom. This was completed by a Curriculum Support Programme available to every teacher. A Screen Scotland funded programme of training and evaluation of the draft Curriculum for early years practitioners complemented work in schools in Phase Three.
By the end of phase three in June 2025, the Draft Film and Screen Curriculum had been delivered and tested in 30 local authorities, to over 6,000 children aged three to eighteen. Over 100 young people have successfully achieved the SQA Film and Screen Award at Level Five or Level Six.
Launch event
On 10 September 2025, Screen Scotland, in collaboration with Education Scotland and Scottish Government, hosted a launch event the celebrate the national rollout of the draft Film and Screen Curriculum into the Curriculum for Excellence.
Curriculum Evaluation and Advocacy Networks (CEAN)
All the work of the Draft Film and Screen Curriculum is supported by two Curriculum Evaluation and Advocacy Networks (CEAN), created by Screen Scotland.
CEAN membership includes education practitioners and teachers at Early Years, Primary and Secondary Levels, tertiary education colleagues specialising in film, screen and creative education, representatives from education and qualification bodies, industry advisors and key staff from Education Scotland, SQA and Screen Scotland.
CEAN2 is open to all, and meets quarterly online to share Screen Scotland Education updates.
If you would like to join this group please email [email protected] with CEAN2 in the subject line.
Delivering the Film and Screen Curriculum
Teachers' Online Training Sessions
Following the announcement of the national rollout of Film and Screen into the Curriculum for Excellence as an expressive art, Screen Scotland is delighted to invite teachers in primary and secondary settings from across Scotland to participate in training sessions on delivering the Film and Screen Curriculum.
Each session will relate to BGE levels and areas of the curriculum and be delivered by one of Screen Scotland’s expert screen educators. You are welcome to attend any session, as many activities may be adjusted to suit other BGE levels.
You can find details of the first six sessions and booking links below. More sessions will be added in due course.
Finding Animation Puppets Around You (Stop Motion) (BGE Levels 2 to 4)
4-5pm on Monday 24 August 2026 .
Inspired by Ainslie Henderson’s stop-motion film Stems, this session looks at turning everyday, low-cost materials into stop-motion characters. You’ll leave with quick, classroom-ready puppet-building ideas and some animation prompts that work even with limited time and kit.
Documentary (BGE Level 3)
4-5 pm on Thursday 3 September 2026.
In this session, you'll explore a range of exercises using skills and techniques relevant to the thematic umbrella of documentary.
Camera (BGE Level 2)
4-5pm on Thursday 24 September 2026.
In this session, you'll explore a range of exercises using camera techniques, including shot sizes, angles and movement.
Foley and Sound (Early Level)
4-5pm on Wednesday 7 October 2026.
In this session, you’ll investigate ways to engage pupils at Early Level with art of sound creation, including Foley (sound effects).
Catching Light and Shadow (BGE Levels 1 to 4)
4-5pm on Monday 26 October 2026.
Explore playful, experimental approaches to filmmaking that help pupils notice light, shadow and play with movement - ideal for class music videos.
Animation with Armature (BGE Level 2)
4-5pm on Wednesday 11 November 2026.
A look at creating animation using modelling wire/pipe cleaners, newspaper/newsprint and masking tape to create posable characters for animation.